The Director-General of the National Social Security Fund, Dr. Mohamed Karky, announced that all insured individuals are covered by health insurance.
In a statement reported by the Al-Jadeed website, he mentioned that the health coverage for COVID-19 patients includes all insured, especially healthcare workers such as doctors, nurses, and administrative staff. The statement added that due to the exceptional difficult circumstances the country is facing, particularly in terms of health, which necessitated the collaboration of all efforts to navigate to safety, the National Fund has shown national responsibility and a notable commitment in this regard. This commitment has been translated into actions through decisions and measures taken by the director-general to address the issues faced by the insured, regardless of their categories, especially regarding their treatment due to the COVID-19 pandemic and facilitating their access to entitlements stipulated in the laws and regulations of social security.
While the Emergency Labor and Occupational Diseases Branch is being implemented, the director-general issued a memo numbered 657 dated January 25, 2021, stipulating that all diseases, including "COVID-19," are included in the benefits of the Sickness and Maternity insurance branch, except for those resulting from occupational hazards, in accordance with the decision of the Board of Directors' Bureau No. 842 dated January 22, 2021.
Dr. Karky thanked the medical staff, both individuals and institutions, for their cooperation and for being on the front lines in confronting this pandemic that has affected the entire world. He assured them that the social security system will remain by their side to protect them and secure their rights.
The statement concluded with the fund's strong commitment to preserve the health and social security of citizens and reiterated its full readiness to fulfill its professional and humanitarian duty toward the insured. It urged citizens to take the utmost preventive measures, such as wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, washing hands continuously, and not leaving their homes during the lockdown except in extreme necessity.
Lebanon is experiencing a new wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting the Lebanese government to extend strict lockdown for another two weeks to curb the spread of COVID-19. The occupancy rate in intensive care units across the country has reached 91%.
