Beirut, Lebanon – 2018: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Ghassan Hasbani inaugurated the regional conference to reduce bone fractures in the Middle East, hosted once again by Bellevue Medical Center, in addition to the multidisciplinary spine center which adopts a different treatment approach in this field. The opening ceremony, organized by the Fragility Fracture Network (FFN), was attended by a large number of prominent Lebanese and international physicians, specialized nurses and other health specialists as well as media professionals.
The conference, which lasted for three consecutive days, discussed the latest scientific developments and treatments in the field of bone surgery. It also hosted eleven of the best international speakers in the world, including Professor Paolo Falaschi, president of Fragility Fracture Network (FFN), as well as a selection of famous Lebanese and international physicians and many specialists in several health fields, who shared the advanced methods in the field of bone surgery, including limbs surgery, spinal surgery, lower back pain, etc.
The conference coincided with the inauguration of the multidisciplinary spine center at the hospital, founded by Professor Nabil Okais. It is based on a new and comprehensive approach to treat patients and give them hope of recovery without resorting to the option of surgery immediately. This unique center includes a team of physicians and healthcare professionals from different specializations who study the file of each patient and meet with him to explain his condition in order to take effective action to relieve his pain, which in 90% of the cases might be done through non-surgical treatment options like: medical treatments, stress management, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, osteopathy, psychotherapy and others.
Commenting on the two events, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Ghassan Hasbani said: “I am honored to inaugurate the BMC Spine Center with you, and happy to witness medical providers teaming up to serve man and medicine. I always think of health from a patient’s point of view. But what I found today, in this excellent hospital, is exactly what patients need. Your therapeutic approach is humane, multidisciplinary, integrative, holistic, and complete. It is fit to deal with any patient with back pain – regardless of the physical or psychological stressors they face. They will heal, with you standing by them.”
Dr. Ghassan Maalouf, Medical Director and Vice President for Medical Affairs at Bellevue Medical Center expressed his pride that Lebanon is hosting this international medical conference given the need for continuous education and sharing the latest international innovations. He said: “I thank His Excellency the Minister of Health for his presence and support for this conference which will emphasize Lebanon’s pioneering status in keeping abreast of the latest developments in the world of bone surgery and providing the best treatments for patients, especially that bones and spine problems are worsening, most notably back pain.” He added: “44% of Lebanese office workers suffer from low back pain, 54% of them are hospital staff, which makes it the second most important reason for seeing a doctor, the fifth reason for being hospitalized, and the third reason to undergo a surgery. Therefore, and in order to ensure the well-being of our patients, we decided to open the spine center and make true the dream of Professor Nabil Okais given the importance of multidisciplinary care and the need to include psychological and physical therapy, bone surgery and neurosurgery.”
The conference and the new center will provide an excellent quality of care for orthopedic patients and improve their physical and psychological well-being. This is the approach adopted by the hospital to treat the human being as a whole, not only his illness.