By: Julius Konton
Liberia’s only tertiary referral hospital, has launched an ambitious five-year, US$132.9 million strategic plan aimed at fundamentally transforming healthcare delivery in a country still grappling with some of the world’s weakest health indicators.
Unveiled in Monrovia, the 2025–2029 Strategic Plan outlines a bold, evidence-driven roadmap to reposition JFKMC as a high-performing, patient-centered, multispecialty, and innovation-led institution, capable of meeting both present and future public health demands.
The launch, held under the theme “Reimagining Excellence, A New Era for John F. Kennedy Medical Center,” signals what health experts describe as one of the most consequential reform efforts in Liberia’s post-war healthcare history.
A National Hospital Under Strain
Founded in 1968 and named after the late U.S. president, JFKMC serves as the backbone of Liberia’s referral system, absorbing complex cases from all 15 counties in a nation of more than 5.5 million people.
Yet decades of underinvestment, compounded by civil conflict, the Ebola crisis, COVID-19, and rising non-communicable diseases, have left the institution struggling with crumbling infrastructure, obsolete biomedical equipment, workforce shortages, chronic underfunding, and surging patient volumes.
Health data from the Ministry of Health consistently rank Liberia among countries with high maternal and neonatal mortality, limited specialist care, and low hospital bed-to-population ratios conditions that place immense pressure on JFKMC.
Eight Pillars to Rebuild a Health System
The new strategy is anchored on an eight-pillar framework, aligned with the government’s ARREST development agenda, focusing on both structural reform and service delivery:
Strengthening leadership and governance
Building a skilled and motivated health workforce
Delivering high-quality clinical services
Ensuring access to medicines, blood products, diagnostics, and equipment
Modernizing and expanding health infrastructure
Strengthening medical education, training, and research
Implementing an integrated digital health information system
Achieving long-term financial sustainability
At the heart of the plan is the construction of an entirely new, state-of-the-art JFK Hospital, alongside the expansion of the Liberian–Japanese Maternity Center and the proposed 300-bed JFK Trauma and Burn Center, a facility Liberia currently lacks despite frequent road accidents and industrial injuries.
Leadership Speaks: A Vision Beyond Survival
“This is about raising the standard of care in Liberia,” said Linda Birch, Chief Executive Officer of JFKMC.
“This plan will enable us to serve more patients with higher-quality, reliable services while building a resilient system that can respond to future health emergencies.”
Dr. Birch emphasized that the strategy advances JFKMC’s three core mandates: tertiary care, health workforce training, and applied research for system improvement.
Implementation, she noted, will be guided by clear timelines, institutional accountability structures, and robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
The Financing Reality: A $123 Million Gap
While the total cost of implementation stands at US$132.87 million, the Government of Liberia has committed only US$9.5 million through its Public Sector Investment Project (PSIP) over five years leaving a staggering financing gap of US$123.37 million.
Analysts say closing this gap will require aggressive donor engagement, public–private partnerships, and sustained political commitment, particularly as donor fatigue grows across West Africa.
Legislature and Government Pledge Political Backing
In a speech delivered on behalf of House Speaker Richard Koon, lawmakers reaffirmed their support for the hospital.
“JFKMC is a national asset that must be protected and strengthened,” the Speaker said, describing health as “a political choice reflected in legislation and budget priorities.”
The statement was delivered by Jerome Verdier, Chief of Staff to the Speaker.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health hailed the launch as a turning point. Speaking for Health Minister Louise M. Kpoto, Dr. Lorraine C. Cooper noted:
“John F. Kennedy remains our primary tertiary referral hospital. As a nation, we must do better than we have done over the years.”
Learning from the Past: Why This Plan Matters
The urgency of the new strategy is underscored by history. A review of JFKMC’s 2016–2020 strategic plan revealed that only 13.6% of its objectives were implemented largely due to weak coordination, financing constraints, and leadership transitions.
“For nearly four years, the institution operated without a strategic plan,” said Milton B.M. Varmah, Director of Planning and Business Development.
“This new framework is designed as a practical, results-oriented tool to close longstanding gaps and bring JFKMC up to international standards.”
A Test Case for Universal Health Coverage
Health experts say the success or failure of JFKMC’s transformation could determine Liberia’s ability to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC), improve health security, and reduce preventable deaths.
With rising non-communicable diseases, re-emerging infections, and rapid digitization reshaping global healthcare, JFKMC’s strategic reset is being closely watched not only by Liberians, but by regional and international partners seeking proof that fragile health systems can be rebuilt with vision, discipline, and sustained investment.
As Dr. Birch concluded, “This strategic plan is not just a technical document, it is a social contract with the Liberian people.”
