By: Melvin Flomo
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Monrovia, Liberia – In a bold move to overhaul its health product testing capabilities, the Liberia Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority (LMHRA) has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with international firm Quality Management Solutions (QMS) to modernize its Quality Control Laboratory to meet ISO 17025 and WHO Maturity Level Three standards.
The public-private partnership (PPP), unveiled at a signing ceremony in Monrovia, is expected to transform Liberia’s pharmaceutical regulation by enabling advanced scientific testing across a wide range of products including medicines, food, animal feeds, and petroleum.
LMHRA Managing Director Dr. Luke L. Bawo described the agreement as a “historic development” that follows months of high-level coordination with key government institutions including the Ministries of Finance and Justice, the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission, and the Bureau of Concessions.
“This is a significant milestone for Liberia,” Dr. Bawo said. “The new lab will not only meet international benchmarks but will also empower us with the legal and scientific authority to tackle substandard products and protect public health.”
With an investment estimated between US$3 million and US$5 million, the upgraded facility is expected to be fully operational in the coming months and will support Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID). LMHRA plans to increase national testing coverage from 40% in 2025 to 95% by 2029 under the AAID framework.
QMS Operations Manager Shoaib Mirza said his firm was honored to support Liberia’s vision. “With our experience across Turkey, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Dubai—and recent training initiatives in Ghana—we are committed to helping Liberia build a transparent, internationally compliant laboratory system,” he noted.
The lab will offer services including drug consistency testing, shelf-life evaluation, microbial and nutritional analysis, contamination detection, and fuel performance assessment. These services will enhance LMHRA’s regulatory enforcement, safeguard consumer health, and promote regional scientific leadership.
LMHRA Board Chairman Dr. David Sumo also expressed optimism. “We are proud of the progress and will soon finalize pricing structures through a formal addendum. Our mission is to restore Liberia’s testing capabilities with global credibility.”
As the country’s lead health product regulator, LMHRA oversees licensing, inspections, and post-market surveillance. The lab modernization initiative marks a major leap toward ensuring the safety and quality of products entering the Liberian market.
With the QMS partnership in place, Liberia is positioning itself as a future hub for scientific excellence in West Africa.
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