The Health, Labor, and Social Affairs Committee held a session today, Monday, in the Parliament under the chairmanship of MP Bilal Abdullah, with the attendance of the Minister of Health in the caretaker government, Firas Al-Abyad, and the members of Parliament. Following the session, MP Abdullah stated: "In continuation of our first session with the Minister of Health and all the stakeholders in the health sector about a month ago at the start of the Gaza war, the war of the Israeli enemy against the heroic Palestinian people, after the heroic operation on October 7, we continued today with Minister Al-Abyad what we had discussed in his initial plan that he set at the beginning of the war and which he supplemented as part of the government’s plan discussed in the joint committees. I believe that the financial resources obtained through the minister’s efforts from the Cabinet and the continuation of some funds from the World Bank, which have been allocated for health services, are partly related to supporting the steadfastness of those residing, and the second part is preparing for their recovery from injuries."
He added: "I believe that the discussion was very useful with the members of the Health Committee. A complete review was conducted of what the Ministry of Health is doing regarding all files, especially those related to equipping and preparing hospitals. We put the minister in a position to suggest to the Cabinet in tomorrow's session that financial advances be provided to support the public hospitals, which will bear the primary burden of responsibilities. He clarified that, with the available resources, we are doing what is necessary. Hopefully, war does not occur, and I believe that no one in Lebanon wants war, but we must be prepared with what we have in the event that war happens." Abdullah pointed out that "this enemy will leave no opportunity for revenge against any resistance, whether in Palestine or elsewhere; its hostility to the Lebanese people and Lebanon has been historic since 1948. We should expect the worst from this enemy, and we discussed with the minister that the targeting of the Mays Al-Jabal hospital by an unexploded shell was a message to us, the Lebanese authorities, the Lebanese people, and the Ministry of Health, that even hospitals in Lebanon will not be safe if the war expands. It is clear that the Israeli enemy is targeting the entire health sector in Gaza, so a plan has been developed regarding the roles of hospitals, emergency services, treatment, and to prepare for this issue in the medical and nursing sectors, ensuring the largest possible quantity of medical supplies. We are asking the government to prioritize hospitals in securing fuel, communications, and the Ministry of Health gives priority to primary health centers in supporting the steadfastness of the people."
For his part, Minister Al-Abyad stated: "The session was good between the Ministry of Health and the Health Committee. We studied or continued to present the Ministry of Health's plan and the steps that the ministry has taken. The goal is to increase the readiness of the health sector and hospitals, in particular, if the Israeli aggression on Lebanon escalates, as well as to enhance the readiness of the health sector. We talked about the subject of medical supplies and medications. Yesterday, we distributed the second wave of supplies, and there will be a third wave to be distributed during the week in cooperation with UNICEF. We are also preparing the warehouses. There is an item on the Cabinet agenda regarding providing advances to public hospitals to increase their readiness in preparation for any possible events, and we also discussed expanding the departments for dialysis patients in the shelters."
Al-Abyad added: "We also informed the Health Committee about the opening of the Turkish hospital in Sidon and the workshops concerning care for war-injured patients, as well as our hotlines, which is 1787, especially for displaced persons. Additionally, the data released by the Ministry of Health is issued twice a week. I emphasize the call for international organizations to take responsibility and curb the violent enemy's actions, whether in Gaza or against our people in Lebanon, and we call for an immediate ceasefire."
