(Monrovia, Liberia, June 12, 2025)– What once stood as a national crisis, severe drug shortages and fragile healthcare delivery, has seen a remarkable turnaround under the stewardship of Dr. Louise Mapleh Kpoto and her team at the Ministry of Health. In less than two years since assuming leadership, Dr. Kpoto has overseen a bold transformation in Liberia’s healthcare landscape, highlighted most recently by the successful completion of the Second Quarter Nationwide Drug Distribution, ensuring life-saving medicines reach all corners of the country, from bustling urban centers to the most isolated rural communities.
Speaking at the end of the second-quarter distribution, Dr. Joshua Peters, Chief Pharmacist-R.L./Director of Pharmaceutical Services at the Ministry of Health, confirmed that all Counties have received second-quarter drug distributions. “We commenced the second-quarter distribution in May to ensure every public facility is fully stocked. Our goal is to eliminate drug shortages at all levels of the healthcare system,” Dr. Peters said confidently. To reach Liberia’s hard-to-access regions, Plan International has stepped in with logistical support, supplying heavy-duty trucks to transport medicines to remote towns and villages often cut off by poor roads and terrain.
As part of the Ministry’s oversight mechanism, a Drug Verification Team is currently deployed in the southeastern corridor of the country. Their mission is to verify the integrity, quantity, and security of the medications delivered, particularly in communities with limited oversight. Yet amid these advances, Health Minister Dr. Louise Mapleh Kpoto remains steadfast in her call for accountability and vigilance at the local level. She has urged County Health Teams to not only receive and distribute medications but to ensure their proper management and safe usage for the benefit of all Liberians and residents. The Minister further emphasized the critical nature of healthcare accessibility, stating that it is not a luxury but a right that must be protected. “Access to quality healthcare is not negotiable. We must ensure the drugs are not only delivered but safeguarded and used for the common good,” she asserted.
Meanwhile, preparations for the third-quarter drugs distribution are well underway. According to Dr. Joshua Peters, 60% of third-quarter medical supplies have already been packaged at the Central Medicine Store (CMS), with logistics in place for a seamless rollout once the remaining quantities are processed.
This proactive approach by the Ministry of Health signals a renewed national commitment to delivering on the promise of equitable healthcare, drawing Liberia ever closer to achieving universal health goals and restoring public confidence in the country’s medical system.