By Kelfala Kargbo
Freetown, 24th September 2026 – The Ministry of Health has unveiled an ambitious plan that requires $2 billion over the next five years to overhaul Sierra Leone’s health sector.
Presenting the figures during the FY2027 budget preparation, Senior Health Economist Nathaniel Soloku disclosed that the total investment amounts to NLe47.2 billion, to be spent between 2026 and 2030.
Soloku explained that per capita health spending is projected to range from $40.3 to $58, still below the World Health Organisation’s benchmark of $86. He emphasized that bridging this gap is critical to improving access and quality of care nationwide.
The annual breakdown of the proposed budget includes NLe338.7 million for 2026, NLe462.7 million for 2027, NLe406.9 million for 2028, NLe400.1 million for 2029, and NLe445.2 million for 2030.
According to Soloku, the plan will focus on five strategic priorities: Strengthening health system inputs and investments, expanding integrated service coverage across all life stages, enhancing health security and intelligence capacity, maximizing system performance and promoting inter-sectoral collaboration.
Officials say the funding will be pivotal in addressing long-standing challenges in infrastructure, workforce, and service delivery, while positioning Sierra Leone’s health system to meet international standards.
