Cancer patients in Lebanon are living in "hell on earth," as a state that kills them daily and humiliates them in exchange for medication, which only a fortunate few can secure. The number of cancer cases is increasing rapidly, but there are no updated statistics or records in the Ministry of Health, with the last census being in 2016, according to Hani Nassar, head of the "Barbara Nassar Association for the Support of Cancer Patients."
In a conversation with MTV, Nassar points out that "on February 4, the World Cancer Day, all countries honor their patients, highlight their strength, and encourage them to continue with that strength. However, in Lebanon, unfortunately, our state informs us of a move to lift support for cancer medications, noting that some medications cost over $6,000." Medications are missing, patients are dying, and no one is taking action. Nassar announces a gathering this Saturday at 2 PM "to raise the voice of cancer patients and stop the massacre committed against them," stressing the need to wear black attire "because they have blackened our lives."
He adds: "We have never asked people to mourn, and our message has always been one of hope and joy. But today we are losing individuals simply because they do not receive their medication, leading to the progression of the disease in their bodies and a decline in their health toward death. They could have survived if the medication had been available," he states, "Today we mourn our patients on their world day instead of honoring them!"
Nassar continues, saying that when they want to lift the support from cancer treatment drugs, "it is better for them to hang us to kill us in one strike instead of torturing us and torturing our families," warning that the situation is dire and that worse is to come if things remain as they are.
For his part, private hospitals' syndicate head Suleiman Haroun points out that "some medications are still missing in hospitals, and we are waiting for this problem to be resolved," highlighting the significant suffering cancer patients experience due to the medication shortage. He mentions in a conversation with MTV that "hospitals suffer from a lack of medications because factories abroad have reduced the quantities sent to Lebanon due to their loss of trust in the local market. Additionally, concerning supported medications, importers say that the Central Bank of Lebanon does not provide them with the support funds they need in a timely and efficient manner."
"Cancer patients are dying due to the deteriorating situation," says Nassar. He adds, "They are forced to stop their treatments, and they die! This is a massacre. They want to make a decision to lift support without considering the guarantors' responsibilities and ensuring the patients' needs."
He notes: "We used to organize meetings for patients in efforts to increase support and share experiences among them, but today this has become detrimental to them due to the circumstances that have made discussions negative, affecting patients adversely rather than helping them. The groups have become 'mourning papers' as patients collapse with every news of a cancer patient's death, which increases their despair. The foremost question among them now is 'When will it be my turn?'"
A massacre in every sense of the word is being committed against cancer patients, who are dying due to the situation and not because of their malignant disease. Some could have lived if they had received the necessary support and were able to take their medications and receive their treatment properly.
