Africa-Press – Liberia. Phebe Hospital, central Liberia’s leading referral facility, is in turmoil as deepening staff grievances, salary disparities, and the threat of an imminent strike imperil healthcare for thousands of residents.
Sources inside the hospital describe an institution stretched to the breaking point, citing acute staffing shortages, low morale, and operational difficulties. With only a handful of medical doctors reportedly on duty, remaining staff face overwhelming workloads, raising alarm over the quality of patient care.
Health workers say they are enduring “untenable conditions,” pointing to persistent pay gaps and financial strain. Many claim their salaries fail to cover basic living costs, further eroding morale and weakening service delivery.
Tensions reached a boiling point when the Phebe Hospital Workers’ Union, frustrated by stalled negotiations with management, announced plans to shut down hospital operations. “Enough is enough,” union leaders declared, vowing to strike unless their demands for fair compensation are addressed.
The prospect of industrial action has sparked widespread concern across Bong County and neighboring areas. Phebe Hospital is a critical hub for specialized and emergency care, and any disruption threatens to overwhelm smaller clinics and deprive vulnerable patients of essential services.
Responding to the crisis, the Ministry of Health acknowledged the seriousness of the situation in a Sunday press release. The Ministry noted that Phebe Hospital’s management falls primarily to its governing partners—the United Methodist, Episcopal, and Lutheran churches—and called on them, along with the Hospital’s Board, to act swiftly to resolve the standoff.
A team of senior ministry officials has been dispatched to the hospital to assess conditions and implement urgent measures to stabilize operations. While the Ministry recognized the validity of staff grievances, it urged health workers to put patient welfare first: “The lives and well-being of patients must remain paramount,” the statement read, warning of the dangers of prolonged service disruption.
The Liberian government reaffirmed its support for national healthcare delivery and noted its ongoing financial subsidy to Phebe Hospital. Still, the crisis has reignited debate over deeper systemic issues in Liberia’s health sector—especially around workforce motivation, compensation, and institutional sustainability.
As negotiations continue, residents of Bong County anxiously await a resolution through dialogue rather than disruption. For many, the stability of Phebe Hospital is not just a labor issue, it is a matter of life and survival.
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