Beirut, Lebanon – 2025: Bellevue Medical Center (BMC) has been awarded the Golden Initiative, Star of Excellence in Patient Experience in its sixth edition by the Arab Hospitals Federation (AHF), in partnership with the Beryl Institute (USA) as a jury. To mark this achievement, BMC held a special ceremony attended by Dr. Joseph El Helou, Advisor to the Minister of Public Health representing his excellency, Dr. Rakan Nassereddine; MP Fadi Alame, President of the Arab Hospitals Federation; Mrs. Alice Yammine Boueiz, Chief Executive Officer of the Arab Hospitals Federation; and other members of the Federation. Also present were delegates from the Orders of Nurses and Physicians, the Deans of the Faculties of Medicine at the University of Balamand and the Lebanese University, the hospital’s senior management, the medical and nursing teams, media representatives along with a large audience.
Among 267 submissions from 10 Arab countries, 38 finalists were honored across 9 categories of excellence. BMC achieved Gold-level recognition in Patient-Centered Care and Community Engagement, Safety & Quality of Care, and Platinum-level recognition in Leadership, Governance, Policy & Culture in addition to Staff and Provider Engagement and Development. These achievements secured BMC an esteemed five-star classification.
This recognition reflects BMC’s strategic vision and innovative practices in delivering high-quality, patient-centered healthcare. It also demonstrates the hospital’s commitment to empowering its workforce and fostering a culture of excellence that sets a benchmark in the region.
In addition, BMC also received a Special Distinctive Award from the Arab Hospitals Federation board in acknowledgment of its outstanding performance and pioneering practices. This honor reinforces the hospital’s mission to provide safe, compassionate, and advanced medical care, with patient experience as a top priority.
Commenting on the award, Mr. Nayef Maalouf, CEO of BMC, expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Public Health, the Arab Hospitals Federation and its council members, he stated:”Being honored with this prestigious certificate is a strong affirmation that our values of compassion, innovation, and excellence are not just words, but the very foundation upon which we build our work every day”.
For his part, the President of the Arab Hospitals Federation, MP Fadi Alame, congratulated the hospital, stating: “The Ministry of Public Health presence in this event reaffirms its unwavering support for the healthcare sector and its pivotal role in elevating the quality of health services. The Arab Hospitals Federation, through its objective and continuous evaluation of the performance of healthcare institutions in our region, is steadfast in pursuing a noble goal: enhancing quality and excellence, while fostering innovation. This achievement goes beyond a mere certificate; it represents recognition of ongoing dedication and a vote of confidence in the level of excellence this institution provides at both the Lebanese and regional levels. It also crowns a visionary approach, investment in people and technology, and an unwavering commitment to quality and safety standards—all of which positively impact patient health and the overall sector.”
In turn, Mrs. Alice Yammine Boueiz, Chief Executive Officer of the Arab Hospitals Federation, congratulated the hospital on this achievement and welcomed Lebanon back as the “Hospital of the Middle East.” She added: “This achievement does not only add a new source of pride to the journey of Bellevue Medical Center, but it also raises Lebanon’s name and reaffirms that, despite all challenges, the Lebanese healthcare sector is capable of offering a model to be emulated and of contributing to shaping the future of Arab healthcare. This accomplishment also strongly places Lebanon back on the Arab healthcare map. Enhancing this leading position and achieving our goals in improving patient experience and revitalizing the hospital sector will undoubtedly reflect positively on the national economy and restore confidence in Lebanon as a destination for treatment and curing in the Middle East.”
As for the Advisor to the Minister of Public Health Dr. Joseph El Helou, expressed his delight for all the times the healthcare sector has received an achievement, stating: “I bow before the Lebanese healthcare sector and all its professionals, who have demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of the crises that struck in recent years. This certificate and the other awards embody my firm belief and constant confidence in the steadfastness and excellence of this sector. I hope that, with the adoption of the universal health coverage, the Ministry will soon become its supervisor and overarching umbrella. I am not surprised that the hospital has received these awards, and I expect the sector to regain its place among the leading ones in the Middle East and to shine once again globally, with the Ministry’s support in introducing new specialties that will cover a significant portion of their cost.”
This award adds to a series of national and international recognitions already earned by BMC, including the MOPH accreditation, the Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation, the Planetree International Gold certification for patient-centered, best sustainable Hospital project award by the Hospital Build and Infrastructure, Five certifications from the Arab Hospitals Federation’s Golden Initiative, along with the Arab Healthcare Climate Change Challenge Champion.