CAREYSBURG — The chair of the Liberian Senate Committee on Health, Sen. Dabba Varpilah, on Friday criticized the poor state of the Liberia Medicines and Health Regulatory Authority’s (LMHRA) infrastructure, describing it as “embarrassing” and unworthy of the country’s 176-year history.
Varpilah made the remarks during an oversight tour of LMHRA’s central office in Monrovia and its quality control laboratory in Careysburg. She was accompanied by committee members Sens. Jonathan Boye-Charles Sogbie of River Gee, Thomas Yaya Nimely of Grand Gedeh, and Cllr. Augustine S. Chea of Sinoe, along with senior LMHRA officials.
“We are not glad about what we saw here because it doesn’t represent Liberia,” Varpilah said.
Citing President Joseph Boakai’s push for infrastructure that reflects the country’s age and dignity, she emphasized the urgency of improving Liberia’s health regulatory systems — especially the drug testing lab.
“It is embarrassing, let me be very honest. When you travel to neighboring countries, you see their systems. And I know in this drug testing business, you have colleagues across West Africa… you feel a little bit sad about your country.”
Senate Committee Pledges Advocacy
Despite her disappointment, Varpilah pledged the committee’s support to ensure the LMHRA’s needs are prioritized in the national budget.
“We would ask you questions and look at how we can advocate to address the challenges confronting the institution,” she said. “But no advocacy is successful without defining what is being advocated for.”
She said the committee’s visit aimed to understand the institution’s needs firsthand to present an informed case for support before the Senate plenary.
“So that informed our trip to this site today to come and see… what is the situation with the existing infrastructure or system that we have here to test our drugs.”
Varpilah outlined a long-term reform vision and called for incremental but sustained improvements.
“Every year, if we say we will achieve this, in a few years’ time, you will see something better that we will leave behind for others to inherit. That is our dream.”
Recognizing Dedication Amid Difficulties
While condemning the conditions of the facilities, Varpilah commended LMHRA staff for their commitment to protecting public health under difficult circumstances.
“I can only encourage you to continue to do your best. We will work with management… where we all sit down and discuss these challenges,” she said.
She added that the committee had documented the facility’s problems and would present them to the Senate for legislative debate and action.
“This could be done in one, two, three years… but if we start building upon what is available — without shifting blame — we will do better.”
LMHRA Director Details Plans for Modernization
Earlier during the visit, LMHRA Executive Director Dr. Luke L. Bawo welcomed the Senate delegation and acknowledged the agency’s infrastructural constraints. He highlighted the urgent need to modernize the lab to meet international standards.
“We inherited an entity that was confronted by many challenges,” Bawo said. “Our mandate is to protect the health of the people by ensuring only safe, quality products are in circulation.”
He outlined plans to automate the agency’s processes — from drug registration to certification — and to launch a digital track-and-trace system for all imported health commodities.
“The current infrastructure does not meet international assessment standards,” Bawo admitted. “We told the Senate Health Committee that in the next three months, we will begin a phased approach to modernizing the lab.”
He said a public-private partnership aimed at revamping the lab had received approval from both the Concession Committee, chaired by Finance Minister Augustine Ngafuan, and the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC).
“By the end of 2025, the LMHRA will have the capacity to test all products in circulation across the country,” Bawo said.
Power Outages and Equipment Failures
During the tour, journalists observed several key testing machines were out of service — some needing repairs estimated at over $10,000. The facility also suffers from intermittent electricity, leaving sections of the lab inactive for long periods.
Discussion about this post