NPBL Raises Alarm Over Sinje Health Center

By Amos Harris

The National Polit-Bureau of Liberia (NPBL) has raised serious concerns over alleged administrative failures, missing medicines, and weaknesses in financial accountability at the Sinje Comprehensive Health Center in Grand Cape Mount County, calling for an independent investigation into the facility’s operations.

Speaking at a press conference in Monrovia on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, NPBL Chairman Victor L. Balo said an assessment report prepared by the organization had identified troubling gaps in pharmaceutical management, procurement procedures, inventory control, and the availability of essential medicines.

According to Balo, the assessment found that 211 tablets of Azithromycin and 435 tablets of Ferrous Sulfate with Folic Acid (FEFA) were reportedly unaccounted for between May 3 and May 31, 2026. The organization said the stock records and dispensing logs it reviewed did not provide a clear explanation for the discrepancies.

The allegations, if substantiated, could raise serious questions about the management of publicly supplied medicines and the effectiveness of internal controls at the health center. However, the reported discrepancies do not, on their own, establish that the medicines were stolen, diverted, or deliberately misused.

The NPBL also alleged that the facility experienced recurring shortages of essential medicines, reportedly lasting about two weeks each month, despite receiving three seed-stock distributions from the Ministry of Health. The organization questioned whether the facility had adequate inventory planning and emergency stock arrangements to meet patients’ needs.

Among the weaknesses reportedly identified were inadequate inventory management, the absence of sufficient emergency buffer stock, concerns about procurement from retail pharmacies, and unrestricted access to the central pharmacy store by volunteer dispensers. These claims have placed the facility’s administrative procedures under scrutiny and raised questions about the effectiveness of supervision by Medical Director Sampson Wlue.

The organization is demanding an independent investigation to establish the causes of the reported pharmaceutical discrepancies and determine whether administrative negligence, recordkeeping failures, unauthorized use, diversion of medicines, or other violations occurred. It stated that the investigation should examine stock records, dispensing logs, procurement documents, financial transactions, and access logbooks for the pharmacy store.

In a separate allegation, the NPBL questioned a statement reportedly attributed to Wlue in which he allegedly said he was from Grand Kru County rather than Grand Cape Mount County and would undermine Cape Mount’s health system because his home county was underserved. The organization noted that, if the statement were authentic and accurately represented, it would raise grave concerns about professional conduct and the constitutional responsibility of public health officials.

The NPBL also raised concerns over reports that professional doctors had been transferred from Grand Cape Mount County to Grand Kru County. It called on the Ministry of Health to disclose the circumstances surrounding the transfers, identify the authorities responsible for approving them, and explain whether the decisions were based on documented staffing requirements and clear public health priorities.

Health Minister Dr. Louise Kpoto has also come under scrutiny, with the NPBL demanding clarification on whether the ministry received the assessment report and what steps, if any, were taken to address the concerns. The organization argued that the ministry must demonstrate effective oversight of public health facilities, particularly where allegations involve the management of essential medicines and the deployment of qualified personnel.

As part of its proposed response, the NPBL announced plans to file a formal complaint with the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), seeking an investigation into the reported discrepancies, procurement practices, and possible misuse of public resources. The organization also called for a comprehensive review of administrative controls and the decisions affecting healthcare delivery at the facility.

The controversy highlights broader concerns about accountability and service delivery across Liberia’s public healthcare system, where chronic medicine shortages and limited access to qualified health professionals frequently leave vulnerable communities struggling to obtain basic treatment. For residents of Grand Cape Mount County, the primary concern remains whether the Sinje Comprehensive Health Center can consistently provide essential medicines and dependable medical services.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Director Sampson Wlue should be given a fair opportunity to respond to the allegations, as the NPBL’s claims have not, by themselves, established wrongdoing by any named official. Independent verification, documentary evidence, and official responses from the relevant authorities will be necessary to determine what transpired and whether administrative or legal action is warranted.

Ultimately, the Ministry of Health must address these concerns transparently, while any subsequent investigation should be conducted impartially and without prejudging the outcome. Residents of Grand Cape Mount County deserve definitive answers about the reported medicine shortages, the management of public medical supplies, and the continued availability of qualified medical personnel at the facility.

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