Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati renewed the call "for the election of a new president of the republic, to put an end to sectarian exploitation and to agree on the nature of the upcoming phase at all levels." He considered that "the most dangerous thing, worse than the cancer affecting our familial society, is the cancer afflicting the nation itself, which is the cancer of sectarianism and confessionalism," emphasizing that "if we do not address this affliction properly, we will reach a stage of complete proliferation that cannot be cured."
The government's stance came during his sponsorship at the Grand Serail today, Thursday, at the launching conference of the "National Plan for Cancer Control 2023-2028," upon the invitation of Minister of Public Health Firas Abiad.
He stated: "Cancer affects the lives of patients and their families and poses a significant challenge to communities and countries. It is a disease that does not discriminate between the young and the old, nor between the rich and the poor. Therefore, we must all unite to combat this common enemy."
Mikati noted that "we have witnessed progress in cancer treatment and an increase in cure rates thanks to innovative therapies. Moreover, modern techniques in early diagnosis enable the detection of cancer in its early stages, which increases successful treatment opportunities."
He pointed out that public awareness and education are, according to him, the crucial pathway in combating cancer. The aim of this entire plan is "to raise awareness among the Lebanese about the importance of early detection and prevention of cancer, and the necessity of following a healthy lifestyle and avoiding risk factors." In this context, Minister of Health Firas Abiad confirmed that "the battle with cancer goes beyond the struggle of the individual patient; it affects the health system, the economy, and public welfare."
He stated: "Cancer represents a significant burden in Lebanon, exacerbated by the prevalence of causes such as smoking, which affects 50-70% of the population, environmental pollution, and others. Lebanon records one of the highest rates of certain types of cancer, such as lung and bladder cancer, and cancers associated with smoking."
He pointed out that "the shortage of cancer medications in the market is a result of the severe financial crisis affecting the country," affirming that "the government continues to support cancer and chronic disease medications, and the Ministry of Health has addressed the shortage through the ‘Aman Program,’ noting that more than 12,500 patients have registered and received more than 25,000 packages of cancer medications."