Monrovia – The newly installed president of the Liberia Medical and Dental Association (LMDA) has alarmed over “lapses” in the health sector which, according to him, continue to pose
Report by Willie N. Tokpah, [email protected]
Speaking at the weekend during the installation of new corps of officers of the LMDA, Dr. Emmanuel K. Ekyinabah said lack of financial equity remains a major challenge to the sector, although according to him, some steps have been taken by the George Weah administration in addressing other challenges the sector had faced.
“When we got elected, we made a call on the Minister of Health and one issue raised was healthcare finances. Thanks to the Pro-poor Agenda, but I think it has to be of a standard,” Dr. Ekyinabah said.
He said lack of financial equity shows the disparity in support to healthcare workers and can only be dealt with if actors of the sector can recognize the diversity in healthcare and work on them.
He stressed the need for government and healthcare practitioners work together and develop a system that will focus on a national health plan.
The new LMDA president said the national health plan should focus more on improving the capacities of healthcare workers through skill training to bridge the “low patients to doctor ratio” in the country.
Currently, patients to doctors ration remain low in the country, in spite of some doctors coming on board in recent time, he said.
“There is a need to improve patient to doctor relationship, where doctors should advocate for patients and patients advocate for doctors,” Dr. Ekyinabah said, adding that it is important to making the sector proactive.
“There are Liberian Doctors undergoing training and the young ones are also begging for opportunities.”
At the same time, he called on the government to provide in-country training for other Doctors, which he added will cut down the cost overseas training.
The installation of the new corps of officers of the LMDA was followed by a fundraising ceremony intended to send additional doctors for specialized training to fill the void in the health sector.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ekyinnabah reemphasized the LMDA’s plan to embark on medical outreach in rural Liberia, as a means of improving the healthcare delivery system.