Buchanan, Grand Bassa County – As a means to examine and update the Community Pharmacy/Cost-Sharing (CP/CS) Training Manuals and operational tools, the Ministry of Health concluded a five-day Technical Committee Working Session Exercise.
The technical session, which took place from April 28 to May 1, 2025, enhance the country’s health system by improving sustainable and community-driven pharmaceutical services, the Ministry of Health said in a statement dated April 30, 2025. Liberia originally implemented the Community Pharmacy/Cost-Sharing Program (CP/CS) in 1986 in an effort to provide access to necessary medications.
However, the initiative had significant delays as a result of the civil unrest and ensuing difficulties including the COVID-19 and Ebola epidemics.
The Ministry and its partners have made aggressive measures to revitalize the program under a new framework that prioritizes sustainability and community engagement in response to these changing difficulties.
Pharmacists, healthcare professionals, legislators, community health workers, and financial specialists are among the many stakeholders who are participating in the technical working session. They are working together to review and update the operational tools, training materials, and implementation guidelines that govern the CP/CS Program.
The goal of the exercise is to make sure that these papers are up to date, suitable for the setting, and consistent with Liberia’s long-term health policy objectives. In terms of health funding, Liberia is presently going through a strategic shift from a system that is mostly backed by foreign donors to one that is locally led and financially viable.
Following a drop in foreign financial help, the Ministry of Health acknowledges the pressing need for creative methods that can maintain drug supply and enhance access to critical healthcare services.
In order to close this gap, the updated CP/CS framework uses a cost-sharing approach that encourages long-term sustainability and community ownership. The workshop is set up to promote active engagement and real-world application.
Each day is designated for specific tasks, including reviewing modules, group discussions, demonstrations, feedback sessions, and final validation. These collaborative engagements are crucial in tailoring the training content to the realities faced by healthcare workers on the ground, ensuring that they are well-equipped to deliver essential services effectively.
One of the key outcomes of the session is the development of a comprehensive roadmap that will guide the national rollout of the updated Community Pharmacy/Cost-Sharing Program.
Participants are also contributing to the refinement of strategic policies and best practices to promote alignment with Liberia’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) ambitions.
The updated materials will serve as a cornerstone for capacity-building initiatives across the country. The Ministry aims to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for patients and build public confidence in the health system to strengthen the foundation of community-level service delivery.
In supra, the revised training manual is expected to be presented to stakeholders for final validation.
This will be followed by a formal endorsement and the presentation of a national roll-out plan. The Ministry anticipates that the successful execution of this exercise will present a meaningful milestone in the journey toward resilient, equitable, and people-centered health services.
The Ministry of Health expresses its sincere gratitude to all partners and stakeholders who are contributing their time, expertise, and resources to this initiative as Liberia continues to pursue sustainable health reforms.
