Monrovia, Liberia — A leaked internal memo has revealed that John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFK), Liberia’s top referral hospital, has handed exclusive control of outpatient drug sales to a private pharmacy. This move has sparked outrage over issues of transparency, pricing, and public health rights.
The memo, dated November 11, 2024, and signed by Dr. Linda A. Birch, CEO of JFK Medical Center, gives B-Kay Pharmacy full control of selling and billing outpatient medications at JFK Memorial Hospital and the Liberian-Japanese Friendship Maternity Hospital.
According to the memo, starting November 12, 2024:
- All outpatient medications are now sold by B-Kay Pharmacy staff inside the two hospitals.
- Payments for these drugs go directly into B-Kay Pharmacy’s private accounts at Ecobank and International Bank.
- The deal was made without public regulation, oversight, or any competitive bidding.
A Quiet Monopoly Inside Liberia’s Largest Hospital
This deal effectively gives B-Kay Pharmacy a monopoly on essential drug sales within Liberia’s main public hospital. Patients must buy their medications from this private vendor, with no price controls or alternative options.
Several patients have reported that prices for basic medicines—like antibiotics, painkillers, and maternal health drugs—have already doubled. Critics warn this could put life-saving drugs out of reach for Liberia’s most vulnerable people.
“This isn’t just about JFK; it’s about the future of public health in Liberia,” said a health advocacy group in response to the news. “If a national referral hospital quietly hands over drug access to a private pharmacy, how long before this becomes common everywhere?”
Violations of National Policy and Public Trust
Experts say the deal breaks Liberia’s Essential Medicines Policy, which calls for public oversight and fair access to drugs. It also goes against the ARREST Agenda, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s main governance plan, and may violate constitutional rights to healthcare.
There’s no sign the deal went through any competitive review, government checks, or public input. It appears to have been made behind closed doors by JFK’s top officials.
“This is governance for private profit, not the public good,” a senior JFK medical worker told this reporter on condition of anonymity, fearing backlash.
Political Pressure Mounts
Health advocates and civil groups are urging President Boakai to act fast. They want:
- An immediate halt to the JFK and B-Kay Pharmacy deal
- An independent investigation into the deal and related finances
- Clear drug pricing rules and strong public oversight at JFK and other public hospitals
This controversy highlights ongoing worries about Liberia’s health system, where public institutions often rely on private companies for basic services—something critics say reduces accountability and raises costs.
The Bigger Picture
Liberia’s healthcare system has long faced drug shortages, lack of funding, and dependence on donors. But experts warn that letting a private company control drug sales in a major public hospital sets a risky example that could hurt public trust even more.
“This is bigger than JFK,” one activist said. “If this quiet takeover of our healthcare keeps happening, it won’t just be about higher prices—it will be about whether ordinary Liberians can trust their hospitals to work for their health, not private profit.”
The government has not yet responded officially to the leaked memo.
