As 2023 approaches, anxiety plagues those responsible for the healthcare sector due to the setbacks experienced over the past year. An unprecedented depletion has affected various insurance funds that are the cornerstone of this sector. In a comprehensive review of the healthcare situation last year, the head of private hospitals, Suleiman Haroun, confirmed to "Al-Markaziah" that the situation was dire and reflected negatively on citizens. He pointed out that lifting subsidies on medical supplies and medications was a major factor affecting the healthcare bill, which saw a significant increase to the point where the insurance bodies could no longer cover costs, placing the burden on patients, resulting in numbers in dollars that exceeded their financial capacity.
Haroun noted that hospital expenses had risen sharply, particularly concerning employee salaries, which included a portion paid in dollars in order to retain nursing staff. Some hospitals were forced to close departments due to the emigration of doctors and nurses, which led to a decrease in hospital admissions as citizens could not afford to pay their medical bills or cover the differences with insurance funds. With rising fuel prices, diesel has become a considerable burden for hospitals needing large quantities, and according to Haroun, this factor “broke the backs of hospitals.” Some hospitals resorted to solar energy as an alternative measure, which is not a permanent solution, since in the best-case scenario, it can only cover 30% of the electricity bill.
Haroun stated that 2022 was the year of hospital ownership transition to new individuals due to the deteriorating economic conditions, citing examples such as St. George Hospital in Ajaltoun, St. Louis in Jieh, and St. Therese in Hadath. Meanwhile, Hotel Dieu Hospital incorporated several struggling hospitals such as Tal Shihha Hospital, St. Charles, and Qartabawi.
Despite the setbacks faced in 2022, Haroun refuses to give up and emphasizes the ongoing collaboration with various insurance bodies to navigate 2023 with minimal damage. He pointed out that the healthcare sector is working with the Minister of Health, the Director General of Social Security, military health services, and the employees' cooperative to share the burden.
Although Haroun rules out any medium or long-term plans due to changing circumstances daily, he explains that the role of the healthcare sector is to mitigate issues as much as possible amid poor economic conditions. He stated, "We are part of society, the economy, and the state; we are not an isolated island; we progress with these factors and regress with their setbacks."
Regarding fresh dollars and their role in improving the bleak healthcare situation, Haroun affirmed that payment in fresh dollars—whether from citizens' pockets directly or through insurance companies that charge in dollars—has not enhanced the state of hospitals. The number of patients able to afford medical costs in dollars has diminished, evidenced by a drop in hospital occupancy rates to around 40%, indicating that people can no longer access healthcare, which is a very dangerous sign and reflects a decrease in hospitals' ability to cover their expenses.
