Due to the evolving security situation in occupied Palestine and southern Lebanon, and to ensure effective response and enhance coordination among all stakeholders in the health sector, Minister of Public Health Firas Al-Abyad issued a memo to all hospitals across Lebanon. He outlined the steps taken by the Ministry of Public Health thus far and reminded hospitals of the necessary actions they should take in case the situation escalates in the south.
The memo emphasized the "commitment of the Ministry of Public Health to cover Lebanese war casualties, within a specific framework and new rates set by the ministry, which will be announced after the meeting scheduled for tomorrow with the Lebanese Private Hospitals Syndicate." It also noted several steps and measures taken by the ministry to assess the readiness level of hospitals across all levels, based on field visits conducted by ministry teams that identified key responding hospitals, which were classified based on clear scientific criteria. In this context, starting tomorrow, the Ministry of Public Health will continue distributing medical supplies and medicines received from the World Health Organization, intended for treating war casualties (Trauma Kits) to the responding hospitals in the most at-risk areas as a first phase.
On another note, all hospitals were requested to maintain open lines of communication with all stakeholders in the health sector, especially with the Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC), which was launched by the Ministry of Public Health in collaboration with the World Health Organization. Additionally, Al-Abyad announced the "establishment of a center for transferring patients to ensure the smooth distribution of patients, in cooperation with ambulance and emergency associations, where data sharing can assist in effectively allocating resources and managing cases in a timely manner."
Moreover, based on previous meetings with the Hospital Syndicate and public hospitals, "the ministry reminded all hospitals of the necessity to enhance their readiness, particularly in ensuring adequate stock for at least two months of medical supplies (medications, essentials, oxygen...) and basic non-medical supplies (fuel, food materials).” It also called on hospitals that have dialysis centers or treat cancer patients to develop emergency plans to expand their capacity to accommodate additional numbers if circumstances force patients to flee.
The ministry reminded "all hospitals to review emergency plans and evacuation and safety plans in the event of imminent threats, and to ensure that all staff are aware of and trained on these protocols/plans."
In conclusion, during these challenging times, the Ministry of Public Health commends the "steadfast commitment of the health sector and affirms that through unity, coordination, and preparedness, we will overcome this crisis."
