Ganta, Nimba County — Liberian pharmacists marked World Pharmacy Day over the weekend by urging the Government of Liberia(GoL) to take four key actions to strengthen pharmacies’ role in the national health system.
By Franklin Doloquee / Nimba County
Speaking in Ganta City, Nimba County during World pharmacist Day Celebration under the theme: Empowering Pharmacists for a Healthier Future, Dr. Menmon P. Z. Dunah, Registrar General and CEO of the Liberia Pharmacy Board, said pharmacists are essential across the entire medicines supply chain from forecasting, procurement and importation to storage, dispensing, patient counselling and pharmacovigilance.
In hospitals and clinics, preparedness, Dr. Dunah said pharmacists work alongside physicians and nurses to promote appropriate medication use and quality pharmaceutical care.
“In communities, pharmacies are often the most accessible health professionals, providing public health services such as antimicrobial stewardship, disease prevention, health education and emergency
preparedness,” Dr. Dunah added.
“To protect the public from substandard and falsified products and unsafe medication use, pharmacies must be empowered. Pharmacists also play a pivotal role in health leadership and governance, helping shape policies that safeguard health care in Liberia.”
Under this year’s World Pharmacy Day theme:, “Empowering Pharmacies for a Healthier Future,” Dr. Dunah proposed four priority investments for the government.
Expand pharmacy education and scholarships
He called on the government to increase scholarship and fellowship opportunities for pharmacists, including fully funded postgraduate education, residencies and specialized training abroad.
He urged collaboration with development partners, universities and regional institutions to create financial support for young Liberian pharmacists, calling advanced professional education “an investment in Liberia’s health-care workforce.”
Establish a national chapter of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists
He asked the Legislature to pass a pending bill to establish and operationalize a Liberian chapter of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists, with an appropriate budget.
He said a local chapter would provide structured postgraduate training and strengthen Liberia’s integration into regional pharmaceutical and public-health networks.
Appoint pharmacists to leadership positions
To ensure pharmacists’ expertise informs national decisions about medicines and public health, Dr. Dunah urged the government to appoint qualified pharmacists to senior technical and leadership roles across ministries, agencies and commissions.
Integrate pharmacists into national health programs
Dr. Dunah recommended broader deployment of pharmacists across national health programs, including immunization, noncommunicable disease management, maternal and child health, emergency preparedness, medicine-use review and reproductive health. Greater integration, he said, would allow pharmacists to practice to the full extent of their training.
He closed with an appeal to pharmacists to uphold professional excellence, ethics, lifelong learning, research and patient-centred care.
He also encouraged mentorship of younger pharmacists and adoption of technology to improve services.
“Every patient who encounters a pharmacist must experience competence, compassion, respect and professional care,” he said, wishing colleagues a happy World Pharmacy Day.
The Liberia Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority and the Liberia Pharmacy Board were acknowledged for their roles in policy and enforcement to ensure access to quality pharmaceutical services.
Ministry reports improvements, rollouts electronic systems
Also speaking, Liberia’s Chief Pharmacist at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Joshua T. Peter Jr., commended sponsors and organizers of World Farmers Day and relayed several government health initiatives.
Dr. Peter urged Liberians to follow a presidential directive declaring the last Saturday of each month National Exercise Day, citing rising deaths from hypertension, stroke and other cardiovascular and respiratory conditions.
He encouraged simple daily physical activity, even brief exercises at a doorstep or porch, to help busy commuters and shift workers stay active.
On service delivery, Dr. Peter said pharmaceutical services are more reliable than when the current administration took office in 2024.
“When we inherited the health sector, shelves were empty and facilities lacked medication. Now we can beat our chest: medication is available,” he said.
He added that the ministry conducts quarterly distributions to county and hospital pharmacies and remains vigilant to keep supplies flowing.
The ministry is rolling out an electronic logistics management information system and an “eMSupply” platform nationwide.
The rollout already covers 33 hospitals and is expanding into counties including Nimba, Lofa and Bomi and will reach more than 55 health centers and hundreds of clinics.
The digital system aims to replace paper records, preserve supply histories, and improve transparency and continuity of care.
Dr. Peter stated that the government, with support from the U.S. State Department, is equipping pharmacists and dispensers with computers and electronic records to modernize service delivery. He added that a new district pharmacy initiative will place pharmacists closer to communities: recent pharmacy interns will be deployed to district-level posts rather than hospitals and provided with transport from motorcycles to cars so they can visit clinics, monitor stocks and report to county and central ministry levels.
“There are many more initiatives under way, but time does not permit me to list them all,” Dr. Peter said, thanking attendees and urging continued support for farmers and public health efforts.
Key points
Ministry of Health reports improved medication availability since 2024 and regular quarterly distributions.
Electronic logistics and eMSupply systems are being deployed to hospitals, health centers, and clinics nationwide.
The district pharmacy programme will place pharmacists in communities and supply them with transport and electronic tools.
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