(Ganta, Nimba County, May 6, 2026) — The Ministry of Health, alongside the Civil Service Agency (CSA), the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), Superintendents, County Health Officers, Health partners, among others, has taken a major step toward reforming the health system with the validation of a new Human Resources for Health (HRH) Policy (2026-2036) intended to rebuild and strengthen the country’s healthcare workforce over the next decade.
Government officials, development partners, civil society organizations, and health sector stakeholders gathered in Ganta, Nimba County, this week for the final validation of the National Human Resource for Health policy.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Health, Hon. Martha Morris, Deputy Minister for Administration and Acting Minister of Health, said the policy is a “critical foundation” for creating a resilient and accountable health system capable of delivering equitable care to all Liberians.
“Today’s engagement marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to strengthen Liberia’s health workforce,” Hon. Morris told participants. “It reflects our shared commitment to ensuring that our health system is equipped with the right people, with the right skills, and appropriately deployed to deliver quality and equitable health services.”
The proposed HRH policy seeks to establish a strategic framework for workforce planning, recruitment, deployment, retention, and performance management at all levels of the healthcare system.
Hon. Morris also called for sustained international support to ensure the policy moves beyond consultation into implementation.
“While developing a robust policy is essential, its true impact will depend on our collective ability to ensure adequate financing, coordinated implementation, and continuous monitoring,” she said.
She praised the World Bank for providing financial and technical assistance and acknowledged the role of Last Mile Health and other development partners in supporting the process.
The Civil Service Agency (CSA), which oversees the country’s public service workforce, pledged support for the implementation of the policy, including reforms aimed at integrating volunteer health workers into the national payroll system and improving staff distribution across underserved areas.
Hon. Edwin K. Jallah, Director of General Administration at the CSA, said the reforms represented both a governance and moral imperative.
“This policy comes at a critical time when strengthening our health workforce is not only a national priority but a moral imperative tied directly to service delivery, equity, and national development,” he said.
Hon. Jallah announced that the CSA would pursue a phased 10-year plan to absorb clinical volunteers into government payroll structures, a move expected to formalize the status of many frontline workers who have operated for years without permanent employment protections.
He also pledged support for the formal recognition and institutionalization of Community Health Workers, who play a crucial role in rural healthcare delivery.
The policy further aims to tackle longstanding inequalities in workforce distribution by introducing incentives for medical personnel serving in hard-to-reach areas and reducing the concentration of health workers in Montserrado County by at least 5% by 2030.
In addition, the CSA said it was digitizing the Personnel Action Notice process and improving interoperability between civil service, health management, and human resource information systems to strengthen payroll integrity and workforce planning.
Mr. T. Ruston Yarnko, Senior Director for Health Systems Strengthening at Last Mile Health, described the validation process as “a major milestone” in efforts to create a “fit-for-purpose health workforce” capable of delivering quality care nationwide.
“Last Mile Health remains committed to supporting the Ministry of Health in implementing this policy,” Yarnko said, adding that the framework would be backed by a strategic implementation plan and operational guidelines intended to ensure nationwide impact.
The validation meeting comes as the Ministry and its partners continue efforts to rebuild the health system and improve social services after years of conflict, disease outbreaks, and economic instability.