Lebanese PM says no patient should be denied hospital care for lack of payment

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Friday that his government will not allow patients to wait for hours outside hospitals or be denied admission because they cannot afford to pay, stressing that public health remains a fundamental right.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the launch of new equipment for government hospitals, Salam praised Lebanon’s medical sector for withstanding years of compounded crises without compromising service quality.

“The health sector in Lebanon has been the primary guardian of people’s right to life,” Salam said. “It endured the crises, the service never stopped, and the level of care never declined.”

He saluted workers in both public and private hospitals, noting that despite the country’s difficulties, access to healthcare in Lebanon “remains far better than in many countries around the world.”

Salam said sustainability in the health sector is “not a luxury but a duty,” adding that his government will move forward with strategies to equip and finance public hospitals to ensure continued and equitable access to medical care.