Monrovia– Senator Zoe Emmanuel Pennue has cautioned the newly confirmed Minister of Health, Dr. Louis Kpoto, against diverting budgetary and international supports towards the provision of adequate healthcare delivery to Liberians for her personal gains.
By Obediah Johnson
Dr. Kpoto was recently confirmed by the Liberian Senate following her nomination to the position by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
Senator Pennue observed that for too long Liberia and its citizens have witnessed the criminal transferring of medical supplies and finances intended for public health centers to privately-owned facilities owned and operated by authorities of the Ministry of Health.
He blamed the situation on the lack of patriotism and love for country by those who previously headed the sector.
He made these assertions during the confirmation hearing of Dr. Kpoto held in the Chambers of the Liberian Senate recently.
Senator Pennue pointed out that many public officials sought medical treatment at the nation’s biggest referral hospital, the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, during the administration of former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
But following the inception of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) led-government, he noted, that the health sector experienced a great decline.
“Addressing the situation of our health sector is not about degree; it’s about passion for the country and commitment. From 2006-2018, the health sector was up. Ministers, Managing Directors and other government officials used to go to the John F. Kennedy Medical Center for treatment. But from 2018 to 2023, the health sector is about 10% as compare to others in the sub-region,” he said.
He claimed that the immediate past administration of the Ministry of Health headed by Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah prioritized the improvement, including the provision of essential drugs and medical supplies to their privately-owned medical facilities.
As a result of this, Senator Pennue observed that many health facilities in Liberia, especially the leeward areas, were deprived from receiving adequate medical and logistical supplies.
“For example Grand Gedeh, a county with between 200,000 to 300,000 residents has only one ambulance. That ambulance is restricted to pregnant women and old people.”
He said presently, many clinics and hospitals operating in the county are prescribing medicines for patients to buy, instead of supplying them due to the lack of support.
He stated that patients are also referred to other private medical centers to do x-ray and other medical check-ups due to poor logistical support to public health facilities across the country.
Senator Pennue pointed out that though fees are being collected from patients seeking medical attention at the JFK and other public medical centers; those fees have not been accounted for over the years.
He challenged Dr. Kpoto to ensure the proper disbursement of funds collected to improve public health centers in Liberia.
“I heard you saying that your husband owns a hospital. You are seeing the situation that Liberia is in when it comes to the health sector. But please, I want you to have passion on the job and put Liberia first.”
Responding, Dr. Kpoto disclosed that she has never worked in administration at the JFK and as such, she does not intend to comment further on how funds collected from patients are disbursed.
She, however, assured that a system would be put in place to collect and deposit into government’s account funds collected from patients seeking treatment at the JFK.
She frowned against what she termed as “over-the-counter” receiving of cash at the largest referral hospital in Liberia.