Health is healthy
as ranking soars

Top in Middle East, 32 worldwide

Lebanon was ranked as the healthiest country in the Middle East, according to the Bloomberg 2017 Healthiest Country Index. It is ranked 32 out of 163 countries worldwide.

Bloomberg graded all 163 countries based on variables such as life expectancy, causes of death, and health risks ranging from high blood pressure and tobacco use to malnutrition and the availability of clean water.

Life expectancy at birth in the country was 75 years in 2015, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Maternal mortality was 15 per one hundred thousand in the same period. Under-five mortality rate is nine per 1,000 births, according to UNICEF data.

Sleiman Haroun, Chairman of the Syndicate of Private Hospitals, said: “The country’s rating for health has always been good, because of a developed healthcare system.”

Haroun said all people have easy access to medical services, especially after the Ministry of Public health increased the number of primary healthcare centers. Awareness toward the importance of vaccinations has also increased.

The number of private hospitals reached 120 last year, including 9,750 beds, according to the Syndicate. There is one physician for every 350 citizens. This is way ahead of the WHO’s recommendations, which is one for every 1,200 citizens.

According to the Bloomberg report, Qatar was the second healthiest among Arab countries, followed by Bahrain, the UAE, and Oman.