The Hospitals Syndicate in Lebanon expressed its astonishment at what has been published on social media regarding Al-Mashreq Hospital's refusal to admit patient Dr. Nabil Kharrat, and the rumors about leaving him in the cold while in critical health until his passing.
The National News Agency quoted a statement from the Hospitals Syndicate in Lebanon, referencing the clarifying statement issued by Al-Mashreq Hospital regarding the allegations of refusing to accept patient Dr. Nabil Kharrat and leaving him in the cold in a critical state until he passed away. The syndicate highlighted the claims of requiring financial amounts from his family and pointed out that some media outlets and social media users have exploited this unfortunate incident involving a well-regarded physician to achieve a distorted journalistic scoop based on falsehoods, which harm the reputation of the hospital and the healthcare sector as a whole.
The statement explained that Al-Mashreq Hospital, which cared for Dr. Kharrat, provided necessary medical care and assistance without consideration for financial matters. It detailed his admission to the hospital, clarifying that his condition was deteriorating until his passing, while assuring complete compliance with their obligations before requesting any financial payment from his family or inquiring about insurance coverage for hospital costs.
The statement noted that the amount paid by his family as a deposit was due to the refusal of the contracted insurance company with the Lebanese Physicians Syndicate to cover the high treatment costs, and it remained as a deposit pending the completion of necessary procedures with the National Social Security Fund, emphasizing that this did not prevent the hospital from providing him with all necessary care.
The syndicate expressed its perplexity at how the Physicians Syndicate allows an insurance company it partners with not to cover the treatment costs for doctors infected with COVID-19. It emphasized that it would be more pertinent to verify the contract terms with the mentioned insurance company rather than blaming hospitals.
The syndicate stressed the necessity for a serious investigation into this matter, away from exaggerations and disputes transmitted through media and social networks, especially as it unjustly harms the late Dr. Kharrat and his family, as well as the hospital operating under unusual and difficult circumstances, and also against those behind these campaigns, diminished in the required credibility.
The Hospitals Syndicate called upon everyone to adhere to ethical and humanitarian responsibilities to win the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure health for all, especially amid malicious campaigns targeting the healthcare sector in all its medical, nursing, technical, and administrative capacities while it is mobilizing all its resources to remain on the front line against the most dangerous virus known in history.
