The House of Representatives has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing universal health coverage in Liberia, with Nimba County Electoral District #2 Representative Nyan G. Flomo pledging legislative support for reforms aimed at making quality healthcare more accessible and affordable to all Liberians.
Rep. Flomo, speaking on behalf of the House of Representatives at the National Health Review Conference held at the Paynesville Town Hall, said the Legislature remains committed to strengthening Liberia’s healthcare system through sustainable financing, effective oversight and legislative reforms.
The conference was held under the theme, “Introducing Universal Health Insurance in Liberia: Financing Maternal and Newborn Care for All.”
In his address, Rep. Flomo described universal health insurance as both a moral imperative and a constitutional responsibility requiring coordinated action among the government, development partners, civil society organizations and healthcare stakeholders.
He said the House is prepared to consider legislation establishing the Liberia Health Equity Fund for Universal Health Coverage (LHEF), describing the proposed bill as one of the country’s most significant healthcare reform initiatives.
“The House of Representatives stands ready to receive, review, and enact the proposed Liberia Health Equity Fund for Universal Health Coverage (LHEF) Bill,” Rep. Flomo said.
“It is one of the country’s most significant healthcare reform initiatives aimed at ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare services,” he added.
The Nimba lawmaker said the proposed Health Equity Fund could help address one of Liberia’s longstanding healthcare challenges—the high level of out-of-pocket spending by patients.
According to him, excessive direct payments for healthcare continue to place significant financial pressure on Liberian families, particularly vulnerable women, children and low-income households.
Rep. Flomo stressed that sustainable healthcare financing is urgently needed to support the government’s efforts to reduce maternal and newborn mortality across the country.
He said the proposed Health Equity Fund could reduce direct healthcare payments by citizens while providing government subsidies for pregnant women, children under five and other vulnerable populations.
The fund, he added, could also facilitate timely reimbursement to health facilities, helping improve service delivery, staffing and the availability of essential medicines.
Rep. Flomo said the Legislature has a critical role to play in ensuring that universal health coverage becomes sustainable and effective.
He identified robust oversight and accountability mechanisms, stronger legal protections for vulnerable citizens and increased domestic resource mobilization as key areas requiring legislative attention.
He also highlighted the establishment of the Liberia Primary Health Care and Immunization Caucus (LIPIC) within the House of Representatives as an important step toward strengthening legislative oversight, advocacy and accountability in primary healthcare financing.
According to Rep. Flomo, members of the House Committee on Health have actively participated in the consultative process leading to the establishment of the caucus.
He further disclosed that the House has mandated its Committees on Health and Judiciary to review proposed amendments to Liberia’s Public Health Law.
The proposed amendments would prohibit healthcare institutions from denying treatment to patients solely because they are unable to pay.
Rep. Flomo said such legislative action would reinforce the Legislature’s commitment to equitable access to healthcare and protect vulnerable Liberians from being denied essential medical services because of poverty.
The Nimba lawmaker called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, healthcare providers and other stakeholders to translate policy commitments into concrete improvements in Liberia’s health sector.
“We are calling for stronger collaboration among government institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, and healthcare stakeholders as well as all wishes to transform policy commitments into tangible actions that will improve maternal, newborn and child health outcomes throughout Liberia,” he said.
He emphasized that maternal and newborn deaths should not be treated merely as statistics, stressing the devastating impact such deaths have on families and communities.
“Every maternal or newborn death represents not merely a statistic but a profound loss for families and communities that Liberia cannot afford to fail its mothers and children,” Rep. Flomo said.
The lawmaker concluded by reaffirming the House’s readiness to act on the proposed Health Equity Fund legislation once formally submitted.
He pledged that lawmakers would work to ensure that universal health insurance becomes a reality in Liberia, particularly for women, children and other vulnerable groups.
“The House of Representatives remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that every pregnant woman has access to skilled maternal care, every newborn receives quality healthcare, and no Liberian is denied medical treatment because of an inability to pay,” he declared.
The National Health Review Conference provided a platform for policymakers, health-sector stakeholders, development partners and other actors to discuss the financing challenges facing Liberia’s healthcare system and explore pathways toward universal health coverage.
Rep. Flomo thanked the organizers for convening the conference and expressed optimism that the discussions would generate practical recommendations capable of strengthening Liberia’s healthcare system and accelerating progress toward universal health coverage.
