Hospitals database created

Syndicate calls for long-term strategic planning

The Syndicate of Hospitals announced that it created a comprehensive database for local private and public hospitals. According to this database, the number of beds in short-stay hospitals totaled 11,902, among which 1,688 in public hospitals. The are 2,306 hospital beds in Beirut and 4,137 in Mount Lebanon. Beds in long-stay hospitals totaled 2,579, including 678 in Beirut and 1,426 in Mount Lebanon. About 689,000 admissions to hospitals were recorded last year, among which 87,000 were admitted in public hospitals. The number of surgeries reached 284,220.

According to Sleiman Haroun, Head of the Syndicate of Hospitals, the sector employs about 25,000 individuals and 10,000 doctors. “It also contributes to the operations of several import and maintenance companies.” He said the total asset value of the hospitals sector exceeds $10 billion.

Haroun said: “The health sector faces many difficulties, starting with the absence of long-term strategic planning, down to weaknesses in public administration.” For instance, financial ceilings allocated for hospitals no longer meet the overall needs of patients treated at the expense of the Ministry of Public Health, and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has not implemented the tariffs adopted by official authorities. Another obstacle facing hospitals is the flow of Syrian refugees that adds a strain on hospitals’ operations.