PHM-Exch> letter to Liberian President about user fees

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Bridget Lloyd <blloyd at phmovement.org>




Please consider signing up your organisation to the attached letter which
calls on the President of Liberia to maintain her promise to permanently
remove user fees for health care.

President Johnson Sirleaf has long been a champion for user fee removal
internationally. She has promised to permanently remove user fees for health
in Liberia 'pending donor support'. Support from donors has not been
forthcoming and as a result there is now a proposal from Liberia's health
ministry to re-introduce fees by 2013.

We need to act now in the run up to the fast approaching elections in
Liberia to put pressure on both the President and Liberia's development
partners to deliver the commitment and resources necessary to maintain the
commitment to user fee removal and expand access to health care for all
citizens of Liberia.

This is a joint initiative of both Liberian and international civil society.
Please consider signing on to the attached letter and note that the letter
(and its signatories) maybe used for media purposes in the future to help
amplify its impact. To add your support, please send your organisation name
to Brie O'Keefe at b.okeefe at savethechildren.org.uk by Friday 30 September.
  www.savethechildren.org.uk


Anna Marriot, OxfamUK



Dear President Johnson Sirleaf,



We have long admired your strong stance against user fees in healthcare, and
greatly admire the efforts of your administration and the Ministry of Health
to improve overall health provision in Liberia.



However, we are concerned about the current plans to reintroduce user fees
after 2013.  As you have stated many times, evidence shows that user fees
exacerbate poverty and can increase mortality.



The removal of user fees in Liberia has helped your citizens access
life-saving interventions and get the care they need without fear of
financial consequences. Yet there is now a draft financing policy which
proposes the gradual reintroduction of user fees. Such a policy, if
implemented, would have negative consequences for the health of your people
and the cost of ill health will fall unfairly on the poor and sick. As such,
we urge you to ensure the draft proposal to reintroduce user fees is revised
and the commitment to remove user fees maintained.



You have expressed your commitment to the permanent removal of user fees in
your country at various international summits ‘pending donor support’. We
would like to offer the government of Liberia our complete support to
increase pressure on donors to put rhetoric into action and provide the
necessary financial and technical support to make sure fee removal is
permanent and successful.



With an upcoming election in Liberia we feel this issue is of critical
importance. Civil society – both nationally and internationally - count on
you to ensure healthcare remains accessible, equitable and affordable for
all Liberians.



Yours sincerely,



[List of Liberian and international organisations]
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