Providing healthcare in the face of economic collapse

The aftermath of the Beirut Port explosion in August 2020, coupled with the nation’s ongoing financial crisis, has left Lebanon on the brink of collapse. Moreover, many sectors were impacted by this situation, especially Lebanon’s health sector, which heavily depends on public financial support. In the hope of shedding additional light on this subject, we interviewed Nassib Nasr, Director General of Hôtel-Dieu de France, administered by Saint Joseph University of Beirut and considered one of the most prestigious hospitals in the country, hospital network play in helping people get the services they need?

One of our main roles is maintaining some of our previous, extremely high standards for healthcare, which is difficult. It is no simple task. However, I believe that the danger zone has been crossed. In order to get through this crucial period, we have worked hard to save three other medium-sized hospitals, which are now administered by Hôtel-Dieu. We have today the largest network of hospitals and hospital beds in Lebanon that meet quality standards, which is difficult given what is happening in Lebanon.

The positive side is that we are creating a synergy between hospitals, and in doing so, we can optimize a variety of things, including services, third-party payments, supplies, etc.

Q: What are the main concerns in regards to the healthcare sector in Lebanon today?

Nassib Nasr: One of the primary obstacles today is the lack of public health coverage in Lebanon, the country’s current economic situation, as well as the scarcity of some drugs and other medical supplies.

Q: With the huge decline in access to healthcare services in Lebanon, what role does Hôtel-Dieu de France and the University of Saint Joseph (USJ)-HDF

Q: What are the positive and negative sides of creating a hospital network in Lebanon?

NN: The positive side is that we are creating a synergy between hospitals, and in doing so, we can optimize a variety of things, including services, third-party payments, supplies, etc. The drawback is that we are in charge of three additional hospitals, all of which have a very poor financial history, and we must invest in them to help them get back to where they were before the crisis. We thus have a plan, and the first phase of it consists of helping them and investing in them. I believe we will see results in the next upcoming months.

Q: What is your vision regarding HôtelDieu de France and its hospital network?

NN: First and foremost, the hospital network, which is quite dynamic, will expand both this year and in the years to come. We are currently developing a number of projects, which include hospitals and many other ideas. Moreover, our country requires additional hospital beds with administration similar to that of Hôtel-Dieu because other hospitals are in