FIH Faces Rigorous Inquiry
By Shadrach Aziz Kamara
Freetown International Hospital recently came under intense scrutiny during a Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Health, Chaired by Hon. Wuyata Songa inquired on February 19, 2025, as Members of Parliament questioned the hospital’s pricing structure and recruiting practices. While the hospital’s high-quality medical services were acknowledged, concerns were raised over its affordability, particularly given the economic situation in Sierra Leone.
A key point of discussion was the hospital’s pricing for medical services, which some felt were disproportionately high compared to the average Sierra Leonean’s living standards.
“The people are raising concerns that your services are extremely expensive. However, while the hospital offer state-of-the-art medical technology and expertise, the prices seemed unaffordable for most locals,’’ Chairperson Songa said.
Hospital representatives defended the costs, explaining that they provided high-quality services unavailable in many West Africa countries. They also cited discounts being offered every Wednesday and for certain operations as efforts to make the hospital’s services more accessible.
However, the Chairperson Hon. Wuyata Songa was not entirely satisfied with the hospital’s justification. She noted that despite the high-quality services and state-of the-art equipment, there should be more consideration for the low income earners.
She emphasized that the hospital could potentially lower its fees, especially since its international doctors, who are paid up to $2,000 a month, earn far less than their counterparts in developed countries.
Another area of concern was the hospital’s recruitment policies. Though the hospital has 18 doctors, only three are Sierra Leoneans, with the rest being international staff. This imbalance raised questions about the hospital’s commitment to developing Sierra Leone’s healthcare sector.
“Do you have plans to train local doctors and build up local expertise so that eventually Sierra Leoneans can perform these surgeries?” one member of the committee asked. The hospital acknowledged that there were no plans for succession planning, but suggested that they would work on creating more opportunities for local medical professionals in the future.
The issue of staff salaries also came under the spotlight, with several MPs pointing out that local nurses earned significantly lower wages than their international counterparts. While international nurses were paid around US$600 a month, while the highest-paid local nurse was earning between $1,200 and $3,000. One MP, who identified as a regular patient at the hospital, called for better transparency in pricing and for the hospital to offer a clear price list for patients. They shared an experience where they had been quoted vague prices for tests, adding to frustrations over the hospital’s billing practices.
Finally, the hospital’s facilities were discussed, with MPs praising the improvements made but stressing that certain aspects, such as the emergency department, still needed further investment. One lawmaker urged the hospital to invest in a permanent structure, as they were currently renting their facilities.
In response, FIH committed to addressing the concerns raised. They assured the committee that they would work on improving their transparency with pricing, and would revisit their pricing strategy to ensure that services were more accessible to the general public.
As the inquiry concluded, members of the committee reiterated the importance of making healthcare services more affordable, particularly for Sierra Leoneans, and called on the hospital to continue its efforts to support both the local healthcare sector and the people of Sierra Leone.
FIH was given a clear deadline to provide the necessary documentation and evidence regarding their pricing, staffing, and infrastructure.
