By Musa Conteh
The National Public Health Agency (NPHA) is facing scrutiny over the priorities contained in its proposed 2027 procurement and expenditure programme, particularly the balance between institutional operating costs and investments aimed at strengthening frontline public-health delivery.
The details were presented on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, at the Miatta Conference Hall in Freetown as part of the FY2027 budget hearing process.
According to the NPHA’s Strategic Plan and Budget Estimates 2025–2027, the Agency’s procurement projections amount to approximately NLe6.596 billion across a range of activities, including vehicle operations, generator costs, disease-management training, infection-prevention supervision, information technology, budgeting and auditing.
The scale of the proposed spending raises a fundamental question: how much of the Agency’s budget is going towards maintaining its institutional machinery, and how much is reaching the core public-health interventions Sierra Leoneans depend on?
A significant portion of the proposed expenditure is concentrated in transport and power-related operational costs. The plan provides NLe2.4 billion for vehicles and motorbikes, covering fuel, lubricants and maintenance. Another NLe1.4 billion is earmarked for generator running costs, including fuel, lubricants and servicing.
Together, the two allocations amount to NLe3.8 billion, accounting for more than half of the expenditure captured in the procurement projections.
These figures place the operational costs of keeping the Agency moving and powered at the centre of the proposed spending programme. While vehicles, motorbikes and electricity are necessary for public-health operations, the level of expenditure warrants closer examination of whether the projected costs are proportionate to the measurable health outcomes expected from them.
The concern becomes more pronounced when the operational allocations are compared with funding for specific disease-prevention and health-worker capacity-building activities.
The NPHA has proposed NLe640 million for quarterly supportive supervision of all 22 government hospitals. It has also allocated NLe400 million to train 30 case managers and 170 other healthcare workers over three days in the management of viral haemorrhagic fevers and other priority diseases across the 22 government hospitals.
The training programme is directly connected to the country’s ability to identify and manage serious infectious diseases. Yet the amount proposed for such specialized capacity-building is considerably smaller than the combined allocation for vehicles and generators.
Another NLe140 million is proposed for supportive supervision to monitor the implementation of infection-prevention and control guidelines in the remaining Peripheral Health Units, while NLe75 million is allocated to support the sample referral system.
These programs have direct implications for disease detection, infection prevention and the movement of samples for laboratory testing. Their effectiveness will depend not only on the money allocated but also on how consistently the activities are implemented and monitored.
The Agency is also proposing NLe1.146 billion for information and communication technology, covering equipment and systems including a 1TB external hard drive, multifunctional printer, network tools and accessories, capacity-building and training, computer running costs, Microsoft Office software, service contracts and an accounting system.
Given the size of this allocation, greater transparency will be important. Stakeholders may reasonably seek details on the quantities being procured, technical specifications, unit costs, procurement methods, suppliers and the measurable improvements expected from the investment.
The budget also contains NLe150 million for budget planning, implementation and review, while NLe125 million is proposed for annual audit fees.
The audit allocation could play an important role in strengthening accountability, particularly given the overall size of the proposed expenditure. Effective auditing should establish not only whether expenditure complied with financial procedures, but also whether major procurement decisions provided value for money.
Another allocation likely to attract attention is the NLe120 million earmarked for official reception and hospitality. Within a public-health expenditure program me, stakeholders may question the necessity and scale of such spending when the Agency is simultaneously seeking resources for disease surveillance, infection prevention, training and other frontline activities.
The debate surrounding the NPHA’s 2027 spending plan therefore goes beyond the total amount being requested. It concerns the composition of that expenditure and the results expected from it.
For an institution responsible for important public-health functions, including disease preparedness, surveillance and response, every major expenditure should be linked to a clear operational need and measurable outcome.
The proposed budget also creates an opportunity for stronger oversight of procurement. Major allocations should be supported by transparent procurement processes, competitive pricing, clear specifications and reporting mechanisms capable of showing whether planned activities were actually delivered.
The NPHA will ultimately face the task of demonstrating that the billions proposed for transportation, power, ICT and other institutional operations are contributing directly to stronger public-health capacity.
For Sierra Leoneans, the most important measure will not simply be whether the Agency spends its approved budget, but whether that spending results in better disease surveillance, stronger preparedness, faster response and improved protection for communities.
As the FY2027 budget process continues, the NPHA’s expenditure priorities are therefore likely to remain an important area for scrutiny, particularly over whether institutional running costs are adequately balanced with investments that directly strengthen the country’s public-health system.
