The Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed that some media outlets are fabricating scenarios to increase confusion in the country.
According to a statement from the Ministry's media office, as conveyed by Al-Jadeed channel, "While the Ministry of Public Health continues its tireless efforts to alleviate the burdens of the pandemic, overcoming various obstacles at multiple levels, some media reports repeatedly fabricate scenarios that are far from reality and objectivity, aiming to draw attention and increase confusion during a very critical and dangerous phase."
The statement further mentioned, "The latest of these scenarios is one newspaper's approach regarding the crisis of a shortage of oxygen devices in the market, which seeks to undermine trust in the ministry regarding the medical supplies and equipment purchased with World Bank funds, based on content that is, at the very least, lacking in accuracy and credibility."
In this regard, the Ministry confirms the following: The execution of the World Bank loan is subject to a third-party audit company approved by the bank, which conducts all auditing work and provides its approval before any funds are disbursed from the loan. The statement highlighted that all purchases made by the ministry underwent transparent bidding processes published on its website, accessible to any interested party, along with the distribution plan. It also pointed out that the agreement with the World Bank stipulated the appointment of experts to monitor the projects financed by the loan, and these experts were indeed appointed, noting that Minister of Public Health Dr. Hamad Hasan had approved a reduction in the number of these experts to cut expenses.
Regarding claims about the isolation of Ministry employees, the Ministry responded that such claims are unfounded and might have been made for undisclosed ulterior motives. It sufficed to ask the (serious) employees whether Minister Dr. Hasan consults them daily, especially since many of them have become well-known to the media due to the tasks assigned to them by Minister Hasan.
The Ministry concluded its statement by indicating that it has always considered the media a key partner in the harsh battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. It regrets that the media has become a partner in negatively impacting this battle and undermining citizens' morale, and that it may have to resort to legal action to halt the fabrications.
Undoubtedly, at this stage, a responsible national collaboration is required, urging the relevant institutions to prepare COVID-19 departments without thinking of profit and loss calculations instead of persisting in claims and accusations.
