Finance and Health Ministers Meet to Discuss Healthcare Funding and Hospital Dues

Finance Minister Yassine Jaber held a working meeting at the Ministry of Finance with Public Health Minister Rakan Nasreddin and the head of the Parliamentary Health Committee, MP Bilal Abdullah. The meeting, attended by a team from the Ministry of Health, was dedicated to discussing the financial needs of the healthcare sector and mechanisms to accelerate their fulfillment, ensuring the continuity of hospital and pharmaceutical services and timely access for citizens.

The discussion addressed the issue of dues owed to hospitals and primary healthcare centers, exploring ways to expedite their payment to support these institutions' capacity—particularly government hospitals—to continue their missions and meet patient needs amid increasing burdens. It also covered securing necessary funding to provide medications and maintain regular supply chains, thereby alleviating the burden of treatment costs on citizens. Financial and procedural challenges that might delay meeting these needs were reviewed, along with solutions through direct follow-up and coordination between the two ministries to accelerate transaction processing and disbursement of dues. This links financial response to urgent healthcare sector requirements, as any delay impacts institutional service delivery and patients' access to treatment.

The attendees also discussed required procedures and measures in the event of potential escalation on the front with the Israeli enemy, including health and hospital readiness and financial accompaniment to meet emergency needs and ensure continued care provision.

The meeting touched upon the draft law for comprehensive health coverage currently being discussed by joint parliamentary committees. A detailed presentation of its articles and objectives was made, along with an examination of its financial requirements and ways to ensure sustainable coverage. The discussion highlighted the importance of enacting this law to reduce the burden of hospitalization and medication costs on citizens, expand the umbrella of healthcare in Lebanon, and strengthen social protection.