By Festus Poquie
Liberia’s John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFK), the country’s primary referral hospital, has raised its delivery charges significantly, now costing expectant mothers more than a quarter of the nation’s per capita income.
The new fee for live birth deliveries, which includes associated complications, is set at $200.
With a per capita income of approximately $804 and a birth rate of around 31 births per 1,000 people, Liberia is classified as a low-income country with limited healthcare resources.
Effective August 1, the JFK Medical Center announced its updated fees, which are structured as follows: an admission fee of $25 for a five-day stay, $90 for a Caesarean section, $65 for intraoperative medications and medical supplies, and $20 for routine laboratory tests.
The hospital requires all patients to deposit the mandatory $200 before surgery, and they must present the receipt to doctors prior to any medical procedure. This policy was detailed in a circular issued by the hospital.
Funding for the John F. Kennedy Medical Center comes from various sources, including government support, international aid, and donations from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and private individuals.
Recently, Richard Koon, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, announced a $20 million increase in the hospital’s budgetary allocation for this year.
However, the new fee structure has drawn criticism from government officials.
Senate President Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence publicly condemned the updated charges, stating, “No woman in labor pain should have to pay a deposit before admission at any government hospital in Liberia. Services should be provided immediately upon arrival. Delivery is an emergency.”
The country grapples with a growing cost of living crisis and an inflation rate nearing 11%,.
