–As New FY 2027 Health Budget to Procure More Dialysis Machines
IPNEWS: Liberia’s draft FY2027 National Budget explicitly includes funding to procure new dialysis machines and upgrade medical equipment at the John F. Kennedy (JFK) Medical Center.
On November 6, 2026, Finance Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan submitted the US$1.538 billion draft budget to the 55th National Legislature on behalf of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr..
The proposal earmarks US$5.3 million specifically for upgrading JFK Medical Center, which covers acquiring dialysis machines alongside other critical medical equipment.
Key Health Budget Allocations (FY2027 Draft)
According to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), the proposed spending plan increases overall health sector funding and targets specific equipment shortages for investment plan projects US$5.3 million for upgrading the facility at JFK, explicitly including new dialysis machines, cancer treatment capacity, and other critical medical equipment.
The Total health sector funding is proposed to rise from US$110.9 million in FY2026 to US$135.8 million in FY2027, an increase of approximately 22 percent.
The draft budget also proposes US$15.3 million for infrastructure and medical equipment at Jackson F. Doe (JFD) Memorial Hospital and allocates funding to fully operationalize the New Redemption Hospital.
Context on the JFK Dialysis Shortage
The budget allocation follows months of public concern and reporting on severe equipment bottlenecks at Liberia’s primary referral hospital including Media reports that roughly 165 kidney patients were competing for only seven functioning dialysis machines at the JFK Dialysis Center.
Because JFK houses the country’s only public dialysis center, the shortage forced medical staff to reschedule stable patients to prioritize emergency cases. Patients and healthcare workers have also urged authorities to install previously acquired equipment without delay, extend operating hours, and improve staffing.
Next Steps in the Budget Process
Because the FY2027 budget was submitted on November 6, 2026, it is currently a draft proposal. The 55th National Legislature must review, debate, and pass the budget before the funds are officially appropriated and disbursed for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2027.
