CB Dunbar Hospital launches cost-sharing drug program to tackle shortages

GBARNGA, Bong County – CB Dunbar Hospital has launched a new drug cost-sharing program to tackle persistent medical supply shortages, requiring patients to pay regulated fees to help restock the facility’s pharmacy.

The initiative, developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, was unveiled Friday during a ceremony in Gbarnga attended by Bong County Superintendent Hawa Norris, County Health Officer Dr. Jefferson Sibley, Hospital Board members, County Council Chair Aaron Sackie-Fenlah, nurses, patients, and other local leaders.

Designed under the framework of a Community Drugs Revolving Fund and Cost-Sharing Scheme, the program seeks to improve drug availability by reinvesting revenue from the sale of essential medications. Patients will now pay standardized, government-approved rates for medications and related services—rates which hospital officials say are significantly lower than private pharmacies.

Dr. Raphael Shamvu

Dr. Raphael Shamvu, the Ministry’s Community Revolving Drug Fund Lead, praised the hospital for taking what he described as a “bold, self-reliant step” and cautioned against misuse of the funds.

“We urge you to ensure that money generated from drug sales is used strictly for its intended purpose,” Dr. Shamvu said. “This is a self-help model. When managed well, it ensures patients receive affordable medication and the hospital never runs dry.”

He added that the new payment structure must align with the Ministry’s recently released pricing guidelines to prevent arbitrary fees and financial exploitation.

“Before this program, unregulated fees were being charged by healthcare providers, putting unfair pressure on vulnerable patients,” Shamvu said.

Response to Foreign Aid Cuts

The cost-sharing scheme comes amid a sharp drop in foreign health funding. In May 2025, the Trump administration canceled 27 of 29 USAID-funded programs in Liberia, stripping nearly US$360 million in aid from the country’s development budget. Health and education were among the hardest-hit sectors, according to Finance Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan.

Dr. Moses Beyan

As a result, the Ministry of Health introduced a new national pricing policy on July 15 requiring public healthcare users to pay L$2,000 for ambulance services, L$1,500 for teenage and adult birth certificates, and L$500 per night for hospital stays.

Dr. Shamvu noted that while the fees are necessary to sustain basic operations, those who genuinely cannot afford to pay will be exempted. He also appealed to citizens to work with hospital administrators to ensure the program’s sustainability and to help reduce the threat of drug resistance caused by shortages and inconsistent treatment.

“We’ll Prioritize Patient Care”

CB Dunbar Hospital’s Medical Director, Dr. Moses Beyan, described the program as a practical solution to a worsening crisis in public healthcare financing.

“These charges are not a burden—they’re a financing mechanism,” Dr. Beyan said. “With donor support declining, this initiative is a national imperative. We promise to prioritize patient care and to operate under the Ministry’s approved fee structure.”

Bong County Superintendent Hawa Norris welcomed the program as “the best alternative” to improve health services in the county. She pledged her office’s full support to ensure transparency and proper oversight.

“We believe in this model because it puts community ownership at the center of health service delivery,” Norris said.

Community members and local leaders in attendance emphasized the call for accountability. Several warned against unauthorized increases in fees and urged hospital staff to strictly follow the Ministry’s guidelines.