The Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Austin Demby, has assured members of the Medical and Dental Association that their delayed fuel payments will soon be resolved. Speaking at a press engagement at the Miatta Conference Centre, Dr. Demby acknowledged the country’s ongoing economic challenges, which have delayed the third and fourth-quarter fuel allocations for 2024. However, he noted that the government paid the second quarter within the first six months of the year.
He reassured that the outstanding payments for July, September, and October would be settled by November 7th. The Medical and Dental Association had threatened to strike on October 23 due to the delays, but Demby urged patience, expressing confidence that a strike would be avoided.
Dr. Demby emphasized the critical role of healthcare workers, noting that fuel is essential for doctors to carry out their duties. The government allocates about 7.5 million leones per quarter for fuel, totaling 31 million leones annually for the health sector. Despite operating on only 11% of the national budget, Dr. Demby assured that efforts are being made to ensure timely payments.
He also announced plans to establish a committee to address the issue and prevent future delays. Dr. Demby highlighted the significant contribution of medical personnel, including 500 doctors and 800 nurses across the country, and shared that two pathologists from Nigeria have been brought in to support the work of Dr. Orwiss Koroma, who has served in pathology for 40 years.
