MONROVIA — The Government of Liberia is set to launch the nation’s first National Digital Health Insurance Pilot, aimed at providing subsidized healthcare services to between 3,000 and 5,000 vulnerable citizens over a six-month period.
The announcement follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Tuesday between the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), the National Insurance Company of Liberia (NICOL), and the National Identification Registry (NIR). The pilot is expected to roll out in July 2025 as part of efforts to fulfill President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s promise to expand healthcare access and digitize public services.
Speaking at the MOU signing in Monrovia, LTA Acting Chairperson Abdullah Kamara tied the initiative to President Boakai’s broader policy commitments.
“You may recall in his first State of the Nation Address, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai made a few promises,” Kamara said. “One had to do with digital transformation and training of 10,000 young people. The second had to do with initiating the National Healthcare Insurance Scheme intended to give people in the lower segment of our society access to affordable healthcare.”
The pilot will incorporate Liberia’s national biometric ID system to ensure that only verified citizens can access the services, reducing the risk of fraud.
“In recent times, based on studies in other countries, we’ve come to understand that technology can play an enabling role,” Kamara noted. “To remove the likelihood of fraud, the national identity system became a relevant component of this endeavor.”
He described the pilot as a “groundbreaking” effort. “It will be the first time in practice that the Republic of Liberia is taking responsibility to subsidize healthcare for its citizens — including medication and medical services — particularly for those in the lower income bracket,” Kamara said.
The program will use a co-payment model, with the government covering the majority of the costs while enrollees contribute a minimal amount. Specifics regarding eligibility criteria and participating health facilities are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
NICOL Acting Managing Director Abdullah Swaray described the pilot as a foundational step toward broader health sector reform.
“We’ve come to sign an MOU that ushers in a pilot project to ensure that 3,000 to 5,000 citizens benefit from what we call the National Health Scheme,” he said.
Swaray added that the program aligns with NICOL’s mission. “The core value of universal health coverage is to provide financial protection and ensure access to healthcare for the underprivileged,” he said.
NIR Director General Andrew Peters pledged the agency’s commitment to supporting the pilot through identity verification.
“The President issued Executive Order 147 mandating the use of the National ID Card for every citizen and foreign resident,” Peters said. “We are prepared to work with all government management agencies to ensure that the person receiving services is exactly who they claim to be.”
He also commended the LTA for its leadership. “We are grateful to the Chairperson of the LTA for being the first institution to lead and promote the use of the National Identification Card,” he said.
The agencies involved believe the pilot will provide critical insights for a national rollout while offering immediate healthcare support to Liberia’s most vulnerable citizens. They see it as a crucial step toward delivering on the government’s pledge of inclusive and equitable development.
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