Africa-Press – Liberia. Executive Director of LMHRA, Dr. Luke L. Bawo
Monrovia — The Executive Director of the Liberia Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority (LMHRA), Dr. Luke L. Bawo, says the institution is taking major steps toward aligning Liberia’s medicines and health products regulation with international standards.
Speaking Tuesday, November 25, 2025 at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism’s regular press briefing, Dr. Bawo disclosed that the LMHRA is actively working to achieve global benchmarks in regulatory practices, laboratory standards, and quality assurance systems.
“We are making significant progress in our quest to acquire international accreditation for our regulatory authority. Our newly established Quality Control Unit is working around the clock to ensure we meet all benchmark criteria needed to attain WHO Maturity Level 3,” Dr. Bawo stated.
He also revealed that the authority is pursuing ISO 17025 certification for its national laboratory — a move he said will place Liberia among countries recognized for credible and reliable product analysis.
Mandate and Progress
The LMHRA’s core mandate is to safeguard the public from substandard, unsafe, or counterfeit medicines and health products. According to Dr. Bawo, this mission is being strengthened through innovation, enforcement, and increased collaboration within the health sector.
He noted recent improvements in health system capacity, including better diagnostic facilities, increased specialist training, and improved equipment availability.
“A health system is only as good as the quality of the health products in circulation,” he said, adding that public confidence in available medicines remains low.
Expired Drugs Removed Nationwide
Dr. Bawo disclosed that one of the authority’s early interventions was the removal and safe disposal of expired and unsafe medicines across 10 counties, including major facilities such as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital, Redemption Hospital, and the Central Medicines Store.
A total of 641.88 tons of expired health products — equal to approximately 65 truckloads — were collected, he said. Disposal efforts are still pending in five southeastern counties.
New Laboratory Modernization Plan
The LMHRA boss also announced that a Public-Private Partnership agreement has been approved to modernize the authority’s Quality Control Laboratory located in Careysburg.
“This modern laboratory will strengthen national testing capacity and enhance quality assurance systems. It will contribute to the safety, quality and reliability of health products circulating within the country.”
Nationwide Expansion Needed
Currently, the LMHRA’s regulatory footprint covers only Montserrado, Grand Cape Mount, Margibi, and Nimba Counties.
Dr. Bawo emphasized the need for full national coverage.
“To implement our mandate effectively, we must operate nationwide. We are in discussions with the Ministry of Health to co-locate LMHRA operations within county health teams across all counties,” he added.
The LMHRA says its reforms are designed to build trust, strengthen public health, and ensure Liberians have access to safe, effective, and quality-assured medicines and health products.
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