The Liberia Telecommunications Authority  Tuesday signed Memorandum of Understanding with the National Insurance Corporation of Liberia, and the National Identification Registry to initiate a pilot program for a National Health Scheme aimed at providing affordable healthcare to citizens.
During the signing ceremony in Paynesville, LTA Chairman Abdullah Kamara outlined the scheme’s objectives. He said the initiative is designed to mirror the principles of universal health coverage, aiming to make healthcare accessible to segments of the population in need.
“The pilot program will initially cover between 3,000 and 5,000 citizens and will utilize the national identification card as a verification tool to ensure citizenship and prevent fraud,”
Kamara stated. He added that the program seeks to alleviate the financial burden on participants, including those with minimal incomes, and will last for a period of six months.
Kamara further explained that the pilot program “will be implemented by NICOL, with validation from NIR to ensure the integrity of the scheme.” He noted that the outcomes of this pilot will guide future policy decisions and facilitate discussions with stakeholders regarding a comprehensive national insurance scheme.
Abdullah Swaray, the Acting Managing Director of NICOL, commented on the universal health care concept, stating it has been successfully implemented in other countries to cover significant portions of populations living on low, minimal wages. “The core value of the national universal health scheme is to provide necessary health services to the underprivileged,” he said.
Swaray reiterated that the MOU represents a significant step toward achieving universal health coverage in Liberia, with an emphasis on delivering affordable healthcare to those in need. He added that the pilot program is expected to generate valuable data and insights to inform the development of a larger national insurance initiative.
Effective July 1, 2025, the NICOL Acting MD announced that the services provided by the pilot program will be available to the public.
Andrew Peter, the Director General of the National Identification Registry (NIR), underscored the importance of collaboration among the three agencies. He stated, “The NIR is prepared to work with all government entities to uniquely identify citizens and foreign residents, thereby reducing incidences of fraud and double-dipping.”
Peter highlighted the critical role of the national identification card in verifying citizenship and maintaining the scheme’s integrity. He elaborated on the President’s executive order mandating the use of the national identification card for services provided by government ministries and agencies and even private institutions.
“The President’s executive order reinforces the necessity of national identification for accessing government services and combating fraud,” he noted.
Peter affirmed that the collaboration between NICOL, LTA, and NIR is vital for the success of the pilot program and the overarching goal of achieving universal health coverage in Liberia.
