Health practitioners here face several challenges, including a difficult working environment and low salaries. Newly recruited health workers take months, if not years, to have their employment sorted out with the Government, while others work for years as volunteers.
By Lincoln G. Peters
Monrovia, September 26, 2024/The Pharmacists Association of Liberia (PAL) has raised concerns regarding newly licensed pharmacists who, despite obtaining their licenses, have not been integrated into the Ministry of Health and are facing significant delays in salary payments.
This situation has left many of these professionals uncertain for several months, prompting calls for urgent action to resolve their employment status and ensure timely compensation.
Dr. Juwe D. Kercula, President of PAL, stated that the ongoing salary delays are demotivating for young pharmacists and emphasized the urgent need to address the issue.
He urged the Ministry of Health to take swift action to integrate these professionals into the workforce and ensure they receive their due compensation.
“We call on the Ministry of Health, the Civil Service Agency (CSA), and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to address this matter as urgently as possible,” Dr. Kercula emphasized, highlighting the critical need for swift action to support newly licensed pharmacists.
Kercula also highlighted other pressing issues affecting pharmacists’ practice in Liberia, noting that the delay in reclassifying pharmacists’ salaries is detrimental to their professional standing and overall morale. He underscored the importance of timely adjustments to ensure fair compensation and recognition for pharmacists’ contributions to healthcare.
The cardinal goal of pharmacists, Kercula, emphasized the significance of medication accessibility.
He noted that while there has been a year of free medical dispensaries, the service has not been effective or accessible for the population. He urged policymakers to implement drug revolving funds, arguing that medications should be available at a nominal cost rather than unavailable altogether.
The PAL President spoke at the program marking World Pharmacists Day, themed “Pharmacists Meeting Global Health Needs,” held in the Ministry of Health’s conference hall on September 25, 2024. He emphasized that pharmacists play a crucial role in meeting health needs by ensuring access to affordable and effective medications, promoting medicine safety, and contributing to research and education, among other vital responsibilities.
He mentioned that this year’s celebration emphasizes the significant role of pharmacists in Liberia and their contributions to global health needs. Providing further context, he noted that the initiative was established by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) in 2009 to promote pharmacists’ valuable contributions to improving health outcomes, ensuring safe and effective medication, and delivering essential health services.
Each year, World Pharmacists Day features a specific theme that highlights various aspects of pharmacists’ practice, including their education, public health, and the critical roles they play in healthcare systems. This annual observance aims to raise awareness about pharmacists’ contributions and promote their involvement in improving health outcomes globally.
He thanked everyone for participating in World Pharmacists Day, which is commemorated annually on September 25th, to recognize the valuable roles and contributions that pharmacists make to the country’s healthcare delivery system.
In his keynote address, Senator Thomas Yaya Nimely, Co-Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, emphasized the crucial role of pharmacists in Liberia’s health sector. He stated, “Any hospital with an improved pharmacist unit will perform well,” and praised the collaboration between doctors and pharmacists in addressing patients’ medical needs.
At the same time, he suggested that pharmacists should engage in politics to effectively advocate for their rights and ensure their issues are addressed.
The Senator of Grand Gedeh County assured PAL that the Senate would collaborate with the association to ensure the health sector functions as intended, reinforcing their commitment to supporting pharmacists and improving healthcare delivery.
In her remarks, Dr. Cuallau Jabbeh Howe, Assistant Minister of Preventive Services at the Ministry of Health, acknowledged pharmacists’ essential role in providing health services. She described their contributions as crucial and emphasized that their importance should not be underestimated.
She pointed out that the supply chain is a major challenge in healthcare and urged pharmacists and other health personnel to work together to find solutions. She noted that the Ministry of Health continues to struggle to ensure adequate medicine availability in facilities.
“We know your role is very significant to the Ministry of Health. We want you to use your expertise to help provide solutions to our supply chain problems,” Dr. Howe admonished the attendees.
Dr. James D. K. Goteh, Director of Pharmacovigilance and Clinical Trials at the Liberia Medicines & Health Product Regulatory Authority (LMHRA), acknowledged pharmacists’ significant contributions and noted their impact in Liberia and on a global scale.
Pharmacists play a critical role in safeguarding Liberia’s health system. Their responsibilities have expanded to require in-depth knowledge of medicines, regulatory frameworks, and patient care. He assured us that the LMHRA would support PAL’s initiatives to address these challenges.
The program commenced with a parade from the EJS Ministerial Complex to the Ministry of Health, gathering diverse medical personnel to celebrate pharmacists’ contributions to healthcare.
