The Minister of Public Health in the caretaker government, Dr. Hamad Hasan, announced a new collaboration with the World Bank.
The National News Agency reported that the Minister of Public Health launched a new phase added to the Ministry's plan under a new agreement with the World Bank. The agency quoted the Minister as expressing gratitude to the World Bank for its cooperation with the Ministry and for reducing controls, considering it a reflection of the Bank's trust in the role and performance of the Ministry of Public Health and its ability to achieve this increase in the number of intensive care beds.
The Minister affirmed that the launch of this phase dispels rumors in some media about the transparency of the ministry's performance concerning the World Bank loan or other grants, as all donor agencies insist on transparent and responsible dealings, which are verified through auditing companies. The Minister clarified that the loan is used to enhance preparedness in all hospitals, achieving equitable distribution to cover all of Lebanon, which has been a cornerstone in the fight against the pandemic.
Minister Hasan pointed out that the Ministry has fulfilled its commitment in its plan to increase the number of intensive care beds in three phases, noting that the number at the beginning of the pandemic (March 2020) was 142 beds, which has increased due to the implementation of the plan to 262 beds as of now, and with the new agreement, the number will rise again to 379 beds within three weeks.
The Minister emphasized that what the Lebanese community needs is support and assistance, urging an avoidance of divisions and opportunistic behavior, indicating that this agreement is an additional achievement that refutes all doubts, claims, and accusations against the Ministry of Public Health for trivial and petty objectives. He wished that anyone seeking to achieve media prominence during this period would steer clear of harming the citizen's health.
Minister Hasan praised the quality of the public health sector, which has embraced people by covering their legitimate differences without increases and according to applicable laws. He also urged private hospitals, which have improved their performance recently, to consider financial discrepancies seriously, as citizens are struggling to afford the millions demanded by some hospitals.
The Minister held a meeting with the contractors who won bids to equip intensive care rooms with negative pressure technology for bed placement, emphasizing the necessity for them to adhere to the specified timeframe to assist the Lebanese community threatened in its health and urged them to not get bogged down by bureaucracy after the World Bank agreed to allow the bids to be executed at a standard price and criteria.
