Published: June 12, 2026
GBARNGA, Bong County – The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), in partnership with the National Integrity Forum (NIF), has unveiled a “Know Your Services and Their Fees” billboard at the C.B. Dunbar Hospital in Gbarnga as part of efforts to promote transparency and accountability in public healthcare delivery.
The initiative forms part of a fee-posting exercise being implemented in selected public hospitals across Bong, Margibi, and Grand Bassa Counties under the Strengthening Political Governance and Accountability in Liberia Project, a three-year program funded by the Embassy of Ireland in Liberia.
Speaking during the unveiling ceremony, CENTAL Program Assistant Andrew D. Johnson said the initiative is intended to empower citizens with information about the approved fees charged for medical services at public health facilities.
According to Johnson, the public display of approved fees is aimed at reducing opportunities for corruption, strengthening accountability, and improving trust between healthcare providers and patients.
“We want citizens to know exactly what they are expected to pay for services at public hospitals,” Johnson said. “This will help eliminate confusion, prevent overcharging, and reduce disagreements between patients and health workers over fees.”
The billboard, installed at the main entrance of the hospital, provides patients and visitors with easy access to information on the costs of services and medications available at the facility.
Johnson clarified that the initiative is not intended to witch-hunt hospital authorities but rather to ensure that citizens are adequately informed about legitimate charges and can distinguish between approved fees and unauthorized payments.
“This exercise is about transparency. It allows patients to know what services require payment and what services should not be charged for,” he added.
The unveiling comes amid ongoing public discussions surrounding the Community Revolving Drug Fund and Cost-Sharing Scheme being implemented at C.B. Dunbar Hospital and other public health facilities across Liberia.
The Ministry of Health launched the Community Revolving Drug Fund and Cost-Sharing Scheme at C.B. Dunbar Hospital in 2025 as part of efforts to address persistent shortages of essential medicines in public health facilities. Under the scheme, revenue generated from the sale of medicines is reinvested into replenishing drug stocks, while service fees help support operational costs and improve service delivery. Health authorities say the system is intended to ensure a sustainable supply of medications and reduce stock-outs that have historically affected government hospitals.
The concept of a revolving drug fund has long been advocated by health stakeholders in Liberia as a means of maintaining a continuous supply of essential medicines. The model allows hospitals to use revenue generated from drug sales to purchase replacement stock, thereby reducing dependence on irregular government supplies. Advocates argue that the system promotes sustainability while ensuring patients have access to affordable medicines within health facilities rather than being forced to purchase drugs from private pharmacies.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Elijah Kai of the National Integrity Forum’s Technical Committee expressed the Forum’s support for the initiative.
Kai said the NIF remains committed to ensuring that Liberians benefit from the country’s resources through improved governance, enhanced public services, and better healthcare infrastructure.
“The National Integrity Forum supports initiatives that promote accountability and improve the quality of services citizens receive,” he said. “When people have access to information, they are better able to demand transparency and hold institutions accountable.”
Meanwhile, C.B. Dunbar Hospital Administrator Enoch Morris welcomed the installation of the billboard, describing it as a timely intervention that would help address misconceptions surrounding the hospital’s fee structure.
According to Morris, the hospital has faced criticism and allegations from some community members who believe the facility is operating as a private institution because of fees charged for drugs and certain services.
“We have been accused of collecting unauthorized fees for our personal benefit,” Morris said. “This billboard will help the public understand that these are approved fees and that the charges are linked to the hospital’s operational and drug supply systems.”
He disclosed that prior to CENTAL’s intervention, the hospital administration had already been exploring plans to acquire a digital display screen to improve public awareness of approved fees and services.
Morris expressed gratitude to CENTAL and its partners for the support, noting that the initiative would strengthen transparency, improve communication with patients, and help restore public confidence in the hospital’s operations.
The fee-posting exercise is expected to continue in other selected public hospitals as stakeholders seek to improve accountability and citizen oversight in Liberia’s healthcare sector.
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