CSA Boss Meets with Intern Doctors to Discuss Funding Challenges

In a meeting held on August 20, 2024 at the Civil Service Agency (CSA) headquarters, the Director-General of the CSA, Honorable Josiah F. Joekai. Jr., engaged with intern Doctors who were accompanied by representatives from the Liberia Medical & Dental Council (LMDC) and the Ministry of Health. The primary focus of the meeting was to address the financial challenges faced by the intern doctors and to explore potential solutions for securing additional funding to enable them to complete their 12-month internships.

The intern Doctors, who are medical graduates deployed to various medical facilities across Liberia, have been serving under the LMDC’s internship program. However, they are currently facing a financial shortfall as the LMDC has exhausted its allocated funds for the program. With two months remaining in their internships, the intern Doctors appealed to the CSA for a payment plan that would provide the necessary financial support to complete their training.

During the meeting, a spokesperson for the intern doctors highlighted the critical need for additional funding. They explained that although the LMDC had fulfilled all its financial obligations to the interns prior to the recent Legislative and Presidential Elections, the funds were insufficient to cover the entire duration of the internship. The spokesperson emphasized that without further financial assistance, the intern doctors would be unable to complete their remaining two months of service.

In response to the appeal, Hon. Joekai expressed his understanding of the situation and acknowledged the importance of supporting the intern Doctors. He called on the LMDC and the Ministry of Health to collaborate in developing a strategic plan to extend government funding for the internship program. Hon. Joekai suggested that this collaborative strategy could then be presented to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to secure the necessary funds.

The CSA Director-General emphasized the significance of the intern Doctors’ contributions to the healthcare system, particularly in a country like Liberia where medical resources are often limited. He assured the intern doctors that the CSA would advocate on their behalf and work diligently to find a solution to their funding challenges.