Monrovia, Liberia – Following the government’s recent initiatives, the Assembly of Liberian Health Professionals has declared that significant progress has been made in eliminating the compensation inequities among health professionals.
Benjamin O. Suamey, the acting secretary general of the Assembly of Liberian Health Professionals, announced in a speech in Paynesville on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, that a salary gap closure initiative has been put in place to guarantee more equitable compensation across different categories of health workers beginning in January 2025.
As a result, he called for healthcare professionals to return to their various work locations, saying that their devotion to delivering vital healthcare services is priceless and that they need to do so for the sake of patients and communities.
Suamey also gave his colleagues the assurance that the Assembly is still actively negotiating with the administration to resolve any lingering issues and guarantee the successful implementation of the new reclassification and compensation policies.
In order to improve Liberia’s healthcare system, he also underlined the necessity of cooperation.
“Your welfare is our top priority, so please notify your leaders if there is any harassment related to the collective action or if more information is required,” Suamey continued.
The government’s declaration of a US$50 top-up for specific types of health workers under the 2025 national budget served as the spark for the strike, which was set to start on December 10, 2024.
Claiming that the top-up breached the Health Sector Pay Grade and Salary Reclassification Policy, which was created to combat pay discrepancies among healthcare professionals, the Assembly denounced the decision.
The Assembly of Liberian Health Professionals’ interim secretary general said that the strike has been halted as medical professionals continue to try to resolve any unresolved problems in light of the government’s recent actions.
To guarantee that Liberia’s healthcare system is robust and fairly rewarded, he said, the government and medical experts should keep communicating. After extensive talks and agreements, he explained, the initiative guarantees that health professionals be paid more fairly.
Suamey stated that among the new measures, pharmacists will now earn US$1,200, while nurse anesthetists will receive US$500, and BSc nurses will be compensated at US$375.
According to him, other groups such as the diploma and AA nurses will now earn US$350, while physician assistants (PAs) will receive US$400.
“Additionally, certified midwives will earn US$300, registered midwives will earn US$320, lab technicians and operating room technicians will be paid US$300, and nurse aides will earn US$185. Volunteers in various healthcare roles will also be employed, with compensation based on their roles,” he said.
