Chinese Ambassador to Liberia Yin Chengwu speaks at a free medical consultation event organised by the 16th Chinese medical team to Liberia on 14 February (CHINESE EMBASSY IN LIBERIA)

When 32-year-old Martha Kollie arrived at the newly established China-aid National Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Laboratory in the Liberian capital of Monrovia, she was unsure if she would receive the medical care she desperately needed.  

Diagnosed with a severe respiratory infection, she had previously struggled to find proper treatment in Liberia’s overwhelmed health care system. 

“I came here because the other hospitals didn’t have the equipment to properly diagnose me,” said Kollie. 

“The doctors told me they now have advanced machines, and I am feeling better after just a few days [of treatment],” she added. 

Kollie is just one of many Liberians benefitting from China’s growing investment in the country’s medical infrastructure. The Chinese government has committed to funding and constructing new hospitals in Liberia, including the state-of-the-art National Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Laboratory at the 14th Military Hospital in Margibi County, which broke ground in December 2024.  

These projects, expected to be completed in December this year, aim to improve health care access in one of Africa’s most under-resourced nations.  

Range of health care projects 

But while these efforts promise much-needed relief, they also reflect China’s increasing economic investments across the continent. 

The health care infrastructure projects are a collaboration between the Liberian government and China, with financial and technical support provided by the Chinese government.  

The Liberian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare oversees implementation, while Chinese construction companies and medical experts facilitate the development of facilities. 

China is financing and constructing multiple health care facilities in Liberia, including the National Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Laboratory, a high-tech medical facility designed to enhance disease diagnosis and treatment capabilities, the expansion of John F. Kennedy Medical Centre, Liberia’s largest hospital, to accommodate more patients, and the development of regional hospitals in underserved areas to reduce the burden on Monrovia’s crowded health care system. 

The projects are spread across Liberia, with major facilities concentrated in Monrovia. Rural regions are also set to benefit, as China has pledged to construct and upgrade hospitals beyond the capital to improve health care access for remote communities. 

The National Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Laboratory is set to open in late 2025, while other hospital construction projects are expected to be completed in phases through 2026. 

China’s investment in Liberia’s health care sector aligns with its broader “small but beautiful” development strategy, which focuses on targeted, high-impact infrastructure projects across Africa.  

Supporting health care 

By supporting health care, China not only strengthens bilateral relations, but also expands its reputation in the region. The initiative is also part of China’s growing engagement with African nations under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation framework. 

For Liberia, these projects mark a significant improvement in health care access. The country has long struggled with a lack of medical resources, outdated equipment, and insufficient health care personnel. China’s involvement could help to bridge these gaps. However, the initiative also raises questions about Liberia’s dependency on foreign aid and the long-term sustainability of these projects. 

Liberian Minister of Health and Social Welfare Loise Kpoto praised China’s contributions, emphasising the urgent need for improved medical infrastructure. 

“Our health care system has faced immense challenges, from the Ebola outbreak to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Kpoto. “China’s support is helping us to build resilience and provide quality care for our people. This is a step forward in ensuring that Liberians have access to modern medical facilities,” he added.  

Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador to Liberia Yin Chengwu described the partnership with Liberia as a testament to China’s commitment to Africa’s development. 

“China believes in fostering strong, mutually beneficial relationships with our African partners. Health care is a fundamental need, and our projects in Liberia reflect our dedication to improving lives and strengthening our friendship,” said Yin. 

On 14 February, Yin was present at a free medical consultation event organised by the 16th Chinese medical team to Liberia. He commended the long-term medical services provided by the Chinese medical team in Liberia and expressed hope that this free clinic would contribute to the health of the employees of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.  

Present at the event, Jeror Cole Bangalu, minister of youth and sports, thanked China for its ongoing contributions to the health and well-being of Liberians and expressed his appreciation to the Chinese medical team for their outreach to the staff of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.  

Looking ahead 

As construction progresses, Liberia’s health care system is set to undergo significant changes. The real test will be ensuring that these facilities remain operational and accessible to all Liberians in the long term. Policymakers will need to balance foreign partnerships with domestic capacity-building to sustain improvements beyond China’s initial investments. 

For patients like Kollie, though, the immediate impact is clear. “This hospital saved my life,” she said with a smile. “I just hope many more people will get the same chance I did.” 

Liberia is still recovering from decades of civil war.  

“The civil war destroyed the country’s health care system and left a huge shortage of health workers. It is important to note that 80 percent of clinics were destroyed and only 10 percent of the population had access to adequate health care,” said Kpoto. 

“But with the Chinese partnership, it’s not just building hospitals, but improving training quality in our medical schools. The number of professionals is systematically increasing as infrastructure improves in our medical schools,” said Kpoto.  

Currently, according to the World Health Organisation, there are 299 health facilities across Liberia. 

Kpoto said that the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is in advanced discussions to train local doctors in China, in addition to sending medical personnel on refresher courses at Chinese universities. 

“They will be able to get fully funded scholarships for this training programme that we hope to launch sometime this year. We hope to train about 300 doctors per year in the programme,” said Kpoto.  

Experts in the health sector say that political stability is paramount to this continued China-Liberia initiative.