The John F. Kennedy Memorial Medical Center in Liberia recently announced a significant increase in fees for maternal care, specifically for Caesarean sections. This announcement, delivered via an internal memo, outlined the new pricing structure, effective August 1, 2025, which includes charges for admission, the C-section procedure itself, intra-operative medications and supplies, and routine laboratory tests. Critically, the memo stipulated that patients must make a deposit covering these costs before undergoing surgery. This new policy has sparked a heated debate, raising concerns about access to essential healthcare services for vulnerable populations.
Senate Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Kangar-Lawrence responded to the announcement by pledging to intervene, emphasizing that no woman in labor should be required to pay a deposit before receiving care at a government hospital. She characterized childbirth as an emergency, highlighting the urgency and necessity of immediate medical attention. However, her response has been met with criticism from Cllr. Taiwan Saye Gongloe, a prominent Liberian human rights lawyer, who accused Senator Kangar-Lawrence of hypocrisy.
Cllr. Gongloe condemned the fee increase as alarming and indicative of a systemic failure within Liberia’s healthcare system. He pointed to the substantial financial resources allocated to Liberian lawmakers, including Senator Kangar-Lawrence, arguing that these funds could be better utilized to improve healthcare, infrastructure, and education. He compared Senator Kangar-Lawrence’s salary to that of the US Senate Pro-Tempore, highlighting the disparity and suggesting a drastic reduction in Liberian lawmakers’ salaries and benefits. He further proposed eliminating the practice of the government purchasing vehicles for lawmakers, asserting that such measures would free up significant resources to address the nation’s pressing needs.
Cllr. Gongloe’s critique centers on the perceived misuse of public funds and the prioritization of lawmakers’ personal benefits over essential services for the population. He argues that the current system perpetuates inequality and creates conditions ripe for social unrest. He linked the situation at JFK Medical Center to the root causes of Liberia’s past civil conflicts, stressing that a system where a small elite enjoys significant wealth at the expense of the majority is inherently unstable. He believes that the prioritization of lawmakers’ financial comfort over the accessibility of healthcare, particularly for vulnerable groups like pregnant women, children, and the elderly, is a recipe for social instability.
Cllr. Gongloe also addressed the withdrawal of USAID support from Liberia’s health sector, a factor cited as contributing to the fee increases. He argued that Liberia cannot indefinitely rely on foreign aid and must implement policy and budgetary reforms to ensure sustainable funding for essential services. He called for free healthcare at government hospitals for pregnant women, children, and the elderly, emphasizing the fundamental right to healthcare and the government’s responsibility to provide it.
This controversy surrounding the fee increases at JFK Medical Center underscores deeper issues within Liberia’s governance and healthcare systems. The debate raises crucial questions about resource allocation, the role of foreign aid, and the responsibility of elected officials to prioritize the well-being of their constituents. Cllr. Gongloe’s pointed criticism of Senator Kangar-Lawrence highlights the perceived disconnect between the political elite and the struggles faced by ordinary Liberians in accessing basic services. The incident has ignited a public conversation about the urgent need for systemic change to ensure equitable access to healthcare and address the underlying causes of social and economic inequality.
