SDG Blog 6: The Healthcare Sector of Lebanon Weakens During Economic Downfall

The Healthcare Sector of Lebanon Weakens during Economic Downfall

    A continual economic depression in Lebanon led to a weakened and restrained healthcare system. The healthcare industry in Lebanon offers limited services and experiences a shortage in medicine and supplies. The U.S. currency deteriorated during an economic fall, severing access to international markets. Therefore, medical suppliers experienced a loss in purchasing power. In addition, private and public hospitals could not account for social security or military health as the government withdrew financial support. Nisreen Salti, an associate professor studying in the health sector, “warns the Lebanese will be less healthy because of rising unemployment and diminished resources for housing and food, which are linked with health.”(Amos, D., & Al-Arian, L., 2020). The population of insurance policy-holders diminished causing a decrease in affordability to attend doctor’s appointments, receive vaccinations, or buy prescriptions.



Figure from (Isma’eel, H., El Jamal, N., Yazbik Dumit, N., & Al-Chaer, E., 2020)

    The Arab Reform Initiative, formed by 15 international research centers, conjugates on measures to implement security throughout the country of Lebanon. This group suggests that healthcare facilities should value patient care over the demanding costs of treatment. Medical professionals should express dignity and compassion as measures of hospitality. The network of healthcare in Lebanon is primarily accompanied through hospitals. In “Saving the Suffering Lebanese Healthcare SectorSuggests”, the author suggests that expanding the market to include “Primary care centres can help increase access, improve health, control illness, and decrease costs by preventing excessive charges incurred by hospital bills.” (Isma’eel, H., El Jamal, N., Yazbik Dumit, N., & Al-Chaer, E., 2020). Opening more primary care facilities will help the public avoid extreme hospital bills and conveniently supply to the market. In addition, the initiative plans to monitor occurrences of readmission as an indicator of growth or decline in offering quality healthcare. If readmission rates decline, then facilities are offering successful services. The government, patients, and covering agencies will then be less cost-burdened. It is unknown how financially straining it would be to implement these measures .

                                                                                    Works Cited

Amos, D., & Al-Arian, L. (2020, February 09). Amid Lebanon's Economic Crisis, The Country's Health Care System Is Ailing. Retrieved November 08, 2020, from https://www.npr.org/2020/02/09/800410394/amid-lebanons-economic-crisis-the-countrys-health-care-system-is-ailing

Isma’eel, H., El Jamal, N., Yazbik Dumit, N., & Al-Chaer, E. (2020, October 21). Saving the Suffering Lebanese Healthcare Sector: Immediate Relief while Planning Reforms. Retrieved November 08, 2020, from https://www.arab-reform.net/publication/saving-the-suffering-lebanese-healthcare-sector-immediate-relief-while-planning-reforms/