Hospital Syndicate Raises Alarm: The Situation Does Not bode Well for Improvement

The Hospital Syndicate in Lebanon pointed out that "hospitals are still burdened by delays in the payment of their dues from the guarantor entities (except for the state employees' cooperative), and they are struggling to pay the bills of importers within specified deadlines." The syndicate added in a statement: "The situation does not bode well for improvement amidst a significant collapse of official administration, and very limited productivity, sometimes due to the employees' strike, which they are justified in, and at other times due to technical issues such as power outages and malfunctions of the electronic system, among others." It continued: "The major danger lies in hospitals' inability to secure supplies and medications for patients undergoing dialysis. Following a new pricing mechanism and an increase in supply prices by more than four times, it is vital first to adjust prices to fit the new situation, as well as to adhere to a payment deadline not exceeding a month that corresponds with what importers demand." It concluded: "This requires an effort from all guaranteeing entities to pay what is due immediately. Moreover, it is necessary to commit to prices and payment deadlines in the coming period, for fear of reaching a stage where hospitals are unable to secure materials needed for dialysis, and this would be the greatest disaster. We warn now to pay attention to this matter before it is too late and to prevent hospitals from being pushed beyond their limits, which puts patients' lives in imminent danger."