Saving the Suffering Lebanese Healthcare Sector Immediate Relief while Planning Reforms

Abstract

In October 2019, an already strained economy in Lebanon suffered a sapping shock leading to a palpable shortage of US dollars, limitations on foreign currency withdrawals and transfers, substantial devaluation of the Lebanese currency, and massive loss of purchasing power. The economic downfall had a crippling effect on all healthcare sectors including hospitals, healthcare providers, and the pharmaceutical and medical supplies industry. The outbreak of COVID-19 further aggravated the crisis. To address the health care crisis, Lebanon needs a dual tracked plan, with immediate measures to tackle the short-term urgency and a medium/long term effort to address the health sector’s structural issues. In this paper, we present some essential reforms needed in the short-term. The approach focuses on maintaining access to healthcare for all, enhancing primary and urgent care centers, controlling readmission, defined as subsequent admission of a patient within a month for the same health problem, and introducing telemedicine. Immediate measures will be needed to reduce the financials strain on hospitals and as well as the hospitalization costs. In parallel, efforts are needed to support healthcare providers and address the challenges of the pharmaceutical and medical supplies industry. These efforts can include direct and indirect monetary support, along with guiding principles to support the people behind these industries while maintaining the quality of the products and services they are providing.