The framework of the round tables that are regularly organized By “100% Liban” consists of relaunching the dialogue between the various decision-makers and actors of the Lebanese economy.
“100% Liban” welcomed the Minister of Health Dr. Firas Al Abiad as a member of the round table and along side the main stakeholders in the field of health and care, and launched a new cycle of work in Action. Furthermore, a work Cycle will continue working on plans previously set or in preparation.
This cycle tackles the problems and challenges of the health sector from different angles. This makes it
possible to prepare concrete recommendations to be integrated into more global framework of the development of a rescue and recovery plan for the economy with the emphasis of focus on the private sector will be the main concern.
The session was moderated by Mr. Fady Rahmé and Elias Kassab from”100% Lebanon” next to the Minister of Health Dr. Firas Al Abiad.
The main participants and speakers:
-Dr Charaf Abou Charaf / President of the Order of Physicians
-Mr.Sleiman Haroun / President of the Syndicate of Private Hospitals
-Mrs. Salma Assi / President of the union of importers of
medical and laboratory equipment
-Mr. Mohammad Jaber / General Secretary of the Syndicate of Pharmacists
-Mr Georges El Hajj / President of the Federation of Bank Employees’ Unions
– Mr. Elie Nasnas / President of the Association of Insurance Companies in Lebanon (ACAL)
– Mr. Jamil Harb / General Secretary of Insurance Companies in Lebanon
– Professor Pierre Yared / General Director of the Lebanese Geitaoui Hospital
-Mr. Richard Haykal / CEO of Haykal Hospital
– Mr. Nassib Nasr / GeneraL Director of Hôtel Dieu de France
Hospital
-Dr. Zuhair Al-Imad/ General Director of Ain W Zain Hospital and Al Jabal Hospital
– Dr. Joseph Frangieh / General Director of Zgharta Public Hospital
-Mgr Estéphan Frangieh / General Director of Notre Dame de Zgharta Hospital
– Mr. Abdel Latif El Yawafi / General Director of Al Sahel Hospital
-Mrs. Etoile Matar and Mr. Roni Dano /representatives of Notre Dame De Secours-Jbeil hospital
– Dr Abed el Salam Hasbini / Member of the “Irada” association and head of the medical commission
– Mr. Mazen Chbaro / Member of the
“Irada” Association
Health Minister Dr. Firas Al-Abiad, raised the issue of the cost and quality of health in Lebanon which are severely threatened by the drastic reduction in GDP which has deteriorated over the past two years.
Doctor Al-Abiad expressed his fears about the continuity of the current conditions of the health system.
Moreover, some international institutions have started promoting the idea of a need for Lebanon to return to a more limited level of medical services.
Due to this, Lebanon may lose its leading position in the region and become a marginal country.
Minister Al Abiad listed the obstacles that the health system is facing, including the political class who works to postpone dealing with the problems instead of solving them, and the angry population who refuses to wait for the reform.
This is probably due to the lack of a culture of cooperation between stakeholders and citizens.
Abiad concluded by wishing for cooperation between all parts of the health sector to solve existing problems and prepare to face the challenges of the years to come.
In his speech, the President of the Lebanese Order of Physicians Dr.
Charaf Abou Charaf, considered that it was urgent to support the private sector, which has proven its success in the management of the health sector, and affirmed that it is favorable to build a cooperation between the public and private sectors in order to reduce costs and obtain better results.
Abou Charaf stressed the issue of restoring confidence in the health sector with the necessity of diverging from politics and focusing on its development.
The president of the union of private hospitals in Lebanon Sleiman Haroun, revealed that it is impossible to go back thirty years
despite the serious crisis that the country is going through in general and the health sector in particular, because we are armed citizens of science, will and activity.
The President of the Association of Insurance Companies in Lebanon, Mr. Elie Nasnas, regrets the decline of the health sector in terms of deterioration in the quality of services, which prevents Lebanon from maintaining its position in the Middle East. Despite the significant difficulties, Nasnas expressed the will to continue the dealing with the struggles and to accept the changes that have occurred.
Mr. Nasnas specified that private guarantors and Insurance Companies will be able to offer solutions to face the challenges of the future.
The Director General of Notre-Dame de Zgharta Hospital, Mgr Estéphan Frangieh appealed to the State to impose the health card and wished to stop populist decisions by perceiving the collapse of the health sector.
The participants agreed to continue the health file through the device put in place and following the coordination of “100% Lebanon”.
Dr. Walid Ammar, current adviser to the Ministry of Health will be welcomed accordingly following the Minister’s proposal.