LMHRA Strengthens Pharmaceutical Regulation, Quality Assurance Systems, and Nationwide Health Product Safety

November 29, 2025

By Femee Wontee

Monrovia: The Liberia Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority (LMHRA) has announced major advancements in strengthening the country’s pharmaceutical regulation, quality assurance systems, and nationwide health product safety.

Speaking during a progress briefing at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs & Tourism (MICAT), the Managing Director of LMHRA provided a detailed update on the Authority’s achievements over the past year, emphasizing its commitment to safeguarding the Liberian public from substandard and falsified medicines.

 A year ago, LMHRA set ambitious goals to transform Liberia’s regulatory environment in accordance with its core mandate: to protect the population from harmful, falsified, and poor-quality medicines and health products.

The Authority says it is making significant strides driven by research, innovation, and multi-sectoral partnerships. Despite improvements in diagnostics, specialist training, and the availability of essential drugs across health facilities, the LMHRA noted that Liberia continues to face serious challenges with the quality of medicines in circulation. Public confidence remains low, and with good reason. Examples of these challenges include,

Patients receiving standard treatment at health facilities but experiencing little or no improvement. Medicines having lower-than-stated active ingredient strength. The presence of dangerous hidden ingredients in some products, such as the amphetamine found in “Koko Forte.” To address these concerns, the LMHRA began its tenure by conducting comprehensive assessments and drafting an evidence-based strategy aimed at tightening national pharmaceutical regulation.

One of LMHRA’s earliest achievements involved a large-scale national waste disposal operation supported by the World Bank and Chemonics. The team successfully removed 641.88 tons of expired and unsafe health products from facilities across 10 counties, including major institutions such as JFK Medical Center, Redemption Hospital, and the Central Medicines Store.

The volume equals approximately 65 truckloads of expired medical waste, marking one of the largest pharmaceutical disposal operations in Liberia’s history. Only the five southeastern counties remain in the final phase of clearance. LMHRA is accelerating efforts to align Liberia with global pharmaceutical regulatory standards. The Authority’s newly established Quality Control Unit is working toward attaining WHO Maturity Level 3, a globally recognized benchmark for strong regulatory systems.

In parallel, LMHRA is actively pursuing ISO 17025 accreditation for its national laboratory an achievement that would validate Liberia’s capacity to conduct internationally accepted product testing and verification.

Last week, the government approved a landmark Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with Quality Management Solutions (QMS) to upgrade the agency’s Quality Control Laboratory in Careysburg. The upgraded facility will enhance LMHRA’s national testing capacity and fast-track the journey toward ISO 17025 certification.

According to the LMHRA leadership, the partnership brings private-sector technical expertise into the public health system boosting efficiency, quality control, and regulatory oversight. In a move to modernize pharmaceutical supply chain monitoring, LMHRA is exploring the introduction of an electronic traceability system.

The system will: Track all medicines entering Liberia Strengthen accountability Detect falsified or counterfeit products Verify authenticity from manufacturer to patient When implemented, this innovation is expected to revolutionize how Liberia monitors and regulates health products. By the end of the year, LMHRA will inaugurate a new national Health Care Waste Disposal Facility in Koko Town, Lower Margibi County.

Funded through the Global Fund and implemented by Plan-Liberia, the five-acre facility will feature: A high-capacity self-loading incinerator Warehouses Power Generators Bottle Crushers Monitoring Wells Decantation Pits Administrative office space.

The modern complex will safely manage expired medicines, illicit drugs, pathological waste, and other hazardous materials. Government ministries including Health and Public Works are providing infrastructure support, such as road grading and electricity extension. “This facility will give Liberia one of the most advanced health care waste management systems in the region,” the LMHRA emphasized.

Currently, LMHRA’s active presence covers only Montserrado, Grand Cape Mount, Margibi, and Nimba Counties. The Authority has announced plans to expand its regulatory footprint to all 15 counties to ensure every community benefits from safe, quality-assured health products.

The LMHRA concluded the briefing by reaffirming its commitment to proactive regulation, innovation, and collaboration across the health sector. “With stronger systems and broader national reach, we can protect our citizens and restore public confidence in the medicines they use,” the Managing Director stated