By Bill W. Cooper
Montserrado County Senator, Saah Joseph has called for the inclusion of a ‘Special Medical Emergency Fund’ in the tune of US$10 million in the country’s 2025 draft budget before the Legislature.
This initiative, according to Sen. Joseph, aims to address the pressing health care needs of struggling Liberians who are unable to seek medical attention outside the country due to financial constraints and other major health issues.
However, the Senator appeal comes at a time when the health care system in the country is still engulfed with numerous challenges, including inadequate facilities, a shortage of medical professionals, and a lack of essential medical supplies.
Liberia’s health care system has also faced significant setbacks since the civil war, which devastated the country’s infrastructure and left many citizens without access to basic health and other services.
The Ebola outbreak in 2014, coupled with the recent COVID-19 pandemic, further exposed the vulnerabilities of the health sector, leading to a heightened awareness of the need for robust health care funding and emergency response mechanisms.
In recent years, many Liberians have found themselves in desperate situations, unable to afford the costs associated with medical treatment abroad, forcing patients to seek treatment in neighboring countries, often at exorbitant costs.
In his appeal during yesterday’s session, Sen. Joseph said the establishment of a dedicated fund would not only provide immediate relief to those in dire need of medical assistance but also serve as a long-term solution to the country’s ongoing health crises.
The Senator also highlighted the stories of countless families who have been pushed into financial ruin due to the high costs of medical care, stating, “No one should have to choose between their health and their financial stability.”
Pleading with his colleagues, the Montserrado County Senator outlined his proposal for the Special Medical Emergency Fund, which he believes could be a game-changer for many Liberians.
He explained that the fund would be designed to provide financial assistance to individuals facing life-threatening medical conditions that cannot be adequately treated within Liberia.
This would include funding for surgeries, specialized treatments, and emergency evacuations for patients requiring urgent care abroad, disclosing that the funds once approved, will be managed by the Ministry of Health (MoH).
The senator also proposed that the fund be financed through a combination of government allocations, thus being taken from the National Disaster Recovery funds intended to cater disaster issues in Liberia.
Sen. Joseph has also stressed the need for the government to invest heavily in the health sector, ensuring the well-being of the citizenry, and asserted, “Investing in health is investing in our future.”
“We cannot afford to ignore the health needs of our people any longer. The Special Medical Emergency Fund is just one step towards building a more resilient health care system that can withstand future crises,” he added.
Meanwhile, following his deliberation on the matter, a motion was proffered by Lofa County Senator, Momo Cyrus, mandating the Senate Committee on Health to investigate and review the proposal with a mandate to report within two weeks.
