Health Aid Updates of the Diakonia Department, Beirut’s Office
Lebanon is Witnessing Medicine Shortages
With the exacerbation of the medicine crisis in Lebanon, Lebanese people are seeking to secure urgent life needs, especially at the health level. Therefore, the Service and Relief – Diakonia Department, Beirut’s Office, of the Middle East Council of Churches, continues its assistance to the most affected families due to the difficult living and economic conditions.
In August 2022, and within the ACT Leb 211 appeal, the department distributed 156 medicines vouchers amounting each 500,000LBP. Hence, 100 people were able to collect their vouchers and go to the pharmacy directly, and for the remaining 56 people, the dispensary’s nurse gathered their prescriptions and collected the medicine for them. In addition, the department distributed dignity and hygiene kits for women, children and youth, in partnership with the international humanitarian organization Norwegian Church Aid - NCA. The Diakonia Department also continued vaccination campaigns for children at Our Lady Dispensary in Sabtieh – Lebanon, and affiliated to MECC.
In a brief overview and according to a study, medicines accounted up to 45% of the health expenditures in 2018, which means 3.5% of the GDP, which is considered one of the highest rates in the region. As well as medicines accounted up to 53% of the personal health expenditures in 2017. Noting that most medicines are not covered by Social Security, and Lebanon’s Central Bank is not paying for subsidized medicines.
Amidst the worsening economic crises in the country, the Lebanese state has lifted subsidies for most basic medicines including treatments for chronic diseases. This is in addition to the absence of national medicines policies and even a clear pricing system based on prescriptions… Therefore, medicines prices are skyrocketing and citizens are unable to secure their pharmaceutical needs, especially with a lower minimum wage of 30$. Hospitals are also facing medicine shortages, and thus are unable to provide basic health services, even the required medicines.
