Monrovia — Liberian clergyman Rev. Philip Blamo has sharply criticized the growing practice of government officials traveling abroad for medical treatment while ordinary citizens are left to struggle with poorly resourced hospitals at home.
Rev. Blamo described the situation as “deeply troubling,” noting that leaders who have the responsibility to improve the country’s healthcare system continue to abandon it in their own time of need. According to him, the decision by officials to seek treatment overseas clearly reflects their lack of confidence in the very medical institutions they expect citizens to depend on.
He stressed that major public health facilities such as the John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFK) and other county hospitals remain severely understaffed, underfunded, and unequipped to handle basic medical emergencies. Many facilities lack essential drugs, proper diagnostic equipment, and adequate infrastructure, leaving poor and vulnerable Liberians with little hope of receiving quality care.
Rev. Blamo argued that if the nation’s leaders truly believed in building a stronger healthcare system, they would prioritize local investments, strengthen medical training, upgrade hospital capacity, and ensure that essential services are available to all Liberians—not only those who can afford travel abroad.
He further emphasized that the health of the nation’s citizens should be a national priority, urging policymakers to demonstrate integrity and commitment by using the same hospitals they expect the public to rely on. Doing so, he said, would force meaningful reforms and improvements in the sector.
Rev. Blamo concluded that the continued exodus of government officials for medical attention abroad is not only a sign of systemic failure but also a betrayal of public trust. He called on the government to take urgent steps to revitalize the country’s healthcare system so that every Liberian, regardless of status or income, can access quality and reliable medical care at home.
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