Senate Examines Health Sector Funding Discrepancies in Liberia

Senate officials scrutinized the MFDP and CBL over health sector funding delays. Health officers risk losing budget allotments for not utilizing funds. Clarifications from CBL and MFDP raised concerns and dissatisfaction among senators, indicating a need for better financial management.

On March 21, 2025, officials from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) and the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) were questioned by the Senate Joint Committee regarding budgetary discrepancies in the health sector. This scrutiny arose after the County Health Officers were warned that they would lose their budget allotments for the first quarter if unused funds were not expended by March 31, despite previous non-disbursement of funds.

The Senate convened a public hearing on March 20, 2025, involving representatives from the CBL, MFDP, Ministry of Health, Civil Service Agency, and Ministry of Education and Labor. The purpose was to obtain explanations for the delays in disbursement of medical funds and to clarify a memo indicating potential financial reversal for County Health Officers.

In his statement, CBL Executive Governor Henry F. Saamoi clarified the bank’s position, asserting that it does not possess the authority to reverse funding already allocated to health institutions. He emphasized that once funds are deposited into accounts, they remain accessible, denying any claims of restrictions enforced by the CBL.

Madam Tenneh G. Brunson, Deputy Minister for Budget at MFDP, refrained from confirming the contents of the memo directed to County Health Officers. She noted, based on her interpretation of the Public Financial Management Law, that County Health Officers have until three months after the fiscal year to spend their funds, but any remaining amounts beyond that deadline would revert to government control, though she failed to reference specific sections of the law.

Senators expressed dissatisfaction with Deputy Minister Brunson’s vague responses, raising concerns about the Ministry’s failure to adequately disburse operational funds for health services. They questioned the validity of maintaining such regulations when the Ministry itself had not fulfilled disbursements for the 2024 budget period, which expires at the end of March. Additionally, senators criticized her responses as unclear and lacking sufficient detail, given her long tenure at the Ministry.

The Senate’s questioning revealed significant concerns regarding the budgetary allocation and management of health sector funds, emphasizing the lack of timely disbursement to County Health Officers. CBL’s position on fund accessibility was clarified by Governor Saamoi, while Deputy Minister Brunson’s vague explanations regarding the Public Financial Management Law did not satisfy Senate members. These developments raise critical questions about accountability and efficiency in the health sector’s financial operations in Liberia.

Original Source: thenewdawnliberia.com