MONROVIA – House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon has announced plans to allocate $20 million in the 2026 National Budget to overhaul the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, Liberia’s largest referral hospital.
The Speaker made the declaration on Monday, March 3, 2025, during a visit to the medical facility where he conducted a comprehensive tour to assess its current condition. Koon emphasized the urgent need for significant financial support to modernize the hospital and improve healthcare services for the Liberian people.
The proposed $20 million represents a major increase from the $7.1 million allocated to the hospital in the current budget, which falls short of addressing the hospital’s critical needs. Koon’s plan aims to fund extensive renovations, increase staff salaries, and expand the hospital’s capacity to accommodate more patients.
During his visit, Speaker Koon stressed the government’s responsibility to invest in public health infrastructure, describing the planned upgrades as a crucial step toward improving healthcare delivery across the nation. He underscored the importance of transforming JFK Medical Center into a modern facility capable of providing quality medical services to all Liberians.
Accompanying the Speaker on the tour, JFK Medical Center’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Linda Birch outlined the hospital’s persistent challenges. She cited a lack of sufficient medical personnel, chronic shortages of essential supplies, and aging infrastructure as major obstacles to effective patient care. Dr. Birch welcomed the Speaker’s proposal, noting that increased funding would address many of these issues and significantly enhance the hospital’s capacity to deliver critical services.
Koon’s push for increased investment in JFK reflects a broader commitment to strengthening Liberia’s healthcare system. He called on his legislative colleagues to support the proposed funding, emphasizing that a well-equipped medical center is essential for national development and the well-being of the population.
