The House of Representatives has mandated its Committees on Education and Health to review a proposed Act seeking to amend the Amended Act of 1972, which established the John F. Kennedy Memorial Medical Center, with the goal of elevating the Tubman National Institute of Medical Arts (TNIMA) from a diploma-granting institution to a degree-granting institution.
The decision was taken during the 18th Day Sitting of the Second Quarter of the Second Session on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, following the submission of a communication by Hon. Augustine B. Chiewolo, Representative of Lofa County District #5.
In his communication, Hon. Chiewolo emphasized that since its establishment in 1945, the Tubman National Institute of Medical Arts (TNIMA) has played a pivotal role in training thousands of mid-level healthcare professionalsโincluding Nurses, Physician Assistants, Environmental Health Technicians, and Laboratory Techniciansโthrough its diploma programs, which span two to three years.
He noted that after 80 years of impactful service to Liberia’s health education sector, there is now a compelling need to align TNIMA’s academic offerings with national and international standards by enabling the institution to award Bachelorโs degrees to its graduates.
According to the lawmaker, this legislative initiative seeks to enhance the quality of healthcare education in Liberia by strengthening one of the countryโs most trusted institutions to better respond to modern public health challenges.
Following the first reading of the bill, a motion was proffered by Hon. Samson Q. Wiah, forwarding the proposed Act to the Joint Committees on Education and Health for scrutiny, review, and subsequent reporting to Plenary.
The Legislatureโs action reflects its continued commitment to building a resilient healthcare system through investments in education and workforce development
