The patient bears about 90% of the actual expenses of the treatment

The Lebanese succumb to pain for fear of hospital costs

• An empty isolation room in the maternity ward of a government hospital.

  From the source

• Mohamed Ezz El-Din had his leg amputated because he was late for treatment because he did not have the necessary money.

  From the source

• The corridor of a government hospital in the Bekaa Valley appears empty of patients and staff.

  From the source

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“I knew that going to the emergency room was necessary when I noticed the rapid change in the color of my toe, but I also realized that going to the hospital wouldn’t cost me less than 2 million Lebanese pounds,” says Mohamed Ezzedine.

And I can't afford that amount, when I don't have any source of income.

My son earns less than 50,000 Lebanese pounds a day, and we need this money to buy food and secure housing.”

One day, Muhammad visited the Arsal clinic in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon, a 74-year-old Lebanese man who suffers from diabetes.

He crouched a little and then stopped to catch his breath, leaning against the wall and wiping the sweat off his white hair and tired face.

Doctors Without Borders has been running the clinic that (Mohammed) has been to for three years.

Over these years, he could not afford to follow the diabetes health system, which further worsened his condition, and later led to the amputation of his left foot.

strange day

The treating doctor, Rabih Kabar, said, “He (Mohammed) has been visiting our clinic for a long time, and we know him well.

The physical difficulties that he suffers daily did not prevent him from spreading laughter with his jokes and stories.

As for this day, his fatigue was clearly visible on him, and he seemed to carry the concerns of the world on his shoulders.

During the examination, Dr. Kabar noticed that one of Muhammad's toes had turned black.

It was necessary to amputate this finger immediately to avoid spreading the infection to the rest of his body.

Then prepare what it takes to urgently refer (Mohammed) to a nearby hospital.

It is worth noting that (Mohammed) noticed the change in the color of his finger two weeks before his visit to the clinic, but he turned a blind eye and did not tell anyone about it because he knew that he would not be able to afford the costs of receiving the necessary care in the hospital.

Hospital care costs

Mohammed was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure 10 years ago.

He was able to cover his treatment costs in the past thanks to the work he did here and there.

However, the economic crisis that Lebanon has been going through for three years has affected his source of livelihood, and thus his ability to bear the costs of the care and medicine he needs.

As a result, (Mohammed) went to the Doctors Without Borders clinic in Arsal.

Over the past ten years, MSF medical teams at Arsal Clinic have provided treatment for the chronically ill, provided pediatric care, reproductive health care and mental health consultations to bridge the gap in basic health services in the Bekaa Valley.

Finally, the organization's teams in the clinic witnessed a significant increase in the number of critically ill people who need hospital care.

Increasing number of visitors

The nurse in charge of the referral in the Bekaa, Maytham Jari, says: “People are heading to the clinic and their conditions have worsened to what cannot be managed by the usual methods, hoping to find alternative ways to deal with their disease, in order to avoid going to hospitals and incurring the costs of care there.”

The ongoing economic crisis in Lebanon has prevented many people from being able to afford hospital care, and people are delaying their timely medical treatment.

With the local currency depreciating by 90%, and due to the rising inflation, the prices of basic commodities, including medicines and medical equipment, rose dramatically, raising hospital costs with them.

At the same time, people's salaries have lost a large part of their value, making it more difficult to bear the costs of care or to resort to private insurance to cover these costs.

Sharp drop in the real value of state contributions

Hospital fees in Lebanon were largely covered by the National Social Security Fund, along with the Ministry of Public Health, depending on the patient's employment status and medical standards.

Mostly, these contributions covered between 85 and 90 percent of the costs, with the patient paying the rest.

But in the current economic crisis, the National Social Security Fund and the Ministry of Public Health now cover only a fraction of the actual costs.

In this context, the organization’s deputy medical coordinator, Farah Nasser, says: “The crisis cast a shadow over the National Social Security Fund and the Ministry of Public Health. They also suffered financially, which prevented them from being able to help more.

At the present time, hospital fees are determined according to the current value of the local currency in the market, while the National Social Security Fund and the Ministry of Public Health are still providing assistance according to the value of the currency before the crisis, so the patient is forced to bear about 90% of the actual expenses.”

Migration of health workers threatens quality of care

Even if patients manage to pay hospital fees, experienced health workers are leaving Lebanon in droves, leaving hospitals without enough staff.

After more than 30% of health workers emigrated, many hospitals were forced to reduce their services, which affected the quality of care they provided.

“Last month, a baby at the birth center needed neurosurgery,” Maitham adds.

We spent weeks trying to find a neurosurgeon who could do the surgery, but we only found two doctors working in this field in the whole country.”

People in Lebanon are facing a severe decline in their ability to access quality hospital care.

After more than 30% of health workers emigrated, many hospitals were forced to reduce their services, affecting the quality of care they provided.

People go to charitable clinics, their condition has worsened to what cannot be managed by the usual methods, hoping to find alternative ways of dealing with their illness, in order to avoid going to hospitals and incurring the costs of care there.

With the local currency depreciating by 90%, and due to rising inflation, the prices of basic commodities, including medicines and medical equipment, have risen dramatically, raising hospital costs with them.

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