Parliament, UNECA Move to Tackle Sierra Leone’s Healthcare Funding Gap
Sia Lucy Kannah The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, has pledged the Sixth Parliament’s full commitment to championing improved healthcare financing for Sierra Leone, describing foreign-backed initiatives aimed at strengthening the country’s health sector as timely and laudable.
Speaker Thomas made these remarks during a high-level engagement at Parliament in Freetown with a visiting delegation from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), led by Chief of Staff Aboubakri Diaw.
Welcoming the delegation, Speaker Thomas expressed strong enthusiasm for the initiative, reassuring UNECA that the Sixth Parliament is positioned to advance sustainable health funding solutions.
Emphasizing Parliament’s constitutional role in representing citizens and exercising legislative oversight, Speaker Thomas assured the delegation that Parliament will actively engage line Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure that health funding proposals translate into tangible legislative actions.
“The Sixth Parliament, known for progressive legislation, will do the needful once all relevant consultations are concluded,” Speaker Thomas stated, reaffirming the legislature’s commitment to standing up for the healthcare needs of ordinary citizens.
The UNECA delegation sought direct audience with Speaker Thomas to leverage Parliament’s constitutional authority over budget approvals, lawmaking, and executive oversight.
Chief of Staff Aboubakri Diaw pointed out a significant funding gap: while Sierra Leone committed under the Abuja Declaration to allocate 15% of its national budget to healthcare, current allocations remain around 6%. Furthermore, approximately 60% of total health expenditures across Africa are currently borne directly out-of-pocket by private households.
UNECA plans to conduct a comprehensive health survey in Sierra Leone to benchmark government health insurance contributions against household spending, ensuring value for money and capitalizing on the nation’s demographic dividend.
Joining Speaker Thomas during the bilateral talks, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Finance, Kekura C. Vandy, provided broader context on the country’s fiscal environment.
Finally, Speaker Thomas affirmed that Parliament will initiate inter-agency consultations with key government partners to evaluate financing tools, streamline health resource management, and work toward enhanced healthcare delivery nationwide.