Sheikh Samy Abi El-Muna, the Druze community leader, received the Minister of Public Health in the caretaker government, Firas Al-Bayad, today, Thursday, in the community's house in Beirut, accompanied by advisors Sheikh Bassem Ghanem, Nadine Hilal, and the head of the Health Statistics Department in the ministry, Hilda Harb. They discussed the general health situation in Lebanon under the current circumstances and the role the ministry plays in that regard, where the Minister informed the Sheikh about the plans the ministry is implementing to develop healthcare services for citizens.
After the meeting, Al-Bayad stated: "We visited this esteemed house and met with His Eminence, the Sheikh, and discussed essential matters that concern citizens, particularly health concerns. Health is a right, and we know that citizens have anxieties regarding hospitalization and medications. His Eminence is well-informed about the health conditions and has questions about the role the ministry and the state play concerning citizens."
He added, "There was a comprehensive review of the sector and ways to address the presence of patients at the doors of hospitals, securing medication, the role of primary care centers, and more. Everyone is aware of the specific financial circumstances facing the country, which affect many ministries' performance. However, the main issue is finding solutions for some matters, including hospitalization. With the budget currently being discussed in the parliament, we expect that with the increase allocated to the Ministry of Health, there will be an increase in the ministry's coverage for citizens. Regarding primary care, in addition to the medications provided by the ministry, there is a project supported by the World Bank. Concerning medication, there are questions about the cessation of support and medications for cancer, etc."
He continued, "Support is still ongoing, and the ministry is working with financial authorities in the state on how to direct support and use it to continue securing medications for citizens. His Eminence's directions were clear, which we are working on. We always prioritize the health of citizens and the community's interest and work to secure the resources to fulfill our duties."
