Healthcare in Lebanon: Best Healthcare in the Region

Despite various economic setbacks in recent years, Lebanon’s medical sector is one of the best in region.

Most of the 52 hospitals found in Lebanon are equipped with the latest technology. Numerous wars have taught the medical staff how to maintain high standards when wounded individuals flood operation rooms and when hospital beds are scarce. From modern anesthesia to zystal operation, doctors in the Levantine state are capable of handling a wide range of disease and operations.

International institutions like the American University of Beirut Medical Center or the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Notre Dame des Secours in the northern city of Jbeil, (also known as Byblos) are part of the same-named educational institutions that teach the doctors and nurses of tomorrow. These institutions also provide state-of-the-art healthcare and wellness services.

Other healthcare institutions like Lebanon Family Health Services have been serving the community for over 40 years.

Lebanon is located precisely in the center between Europe and Asia and in the intercept point between north and south. This geographical advantage moved the country into the spotlight of global healthcare tourism.

Unfortunately, violent spillover from neighboring Syria has led to a decline in medical tourism in Lebanon. “In general, the situation is not very good and the numbers are dropping,” said Dr. Cherfan, General Manager at Beirut Eye Specialist Hospital. “If tourists are not spending money and there is less money moving around the country, even the locals are going to begin spending less money. If potential patients can postpone their treatment, they will do so unless it is an acute problem.”

Meanwhile, other regional healthcare hubs attract medical tourists in masses. Dubai established the Dubai Healthcare City in 2002, a free zone dedicated solely to the medical industry and attracting over 100 medical facilities and some 3,000 healthcare professionals. In Qatar, the Hamad Medical Corporation expanded with several hospitals in the Gulf state. Saudi German Hospitals group hopes to build and run 30 of the largest hospitals in the GCC until the year 2015.

Dr. Cherfan opposed the idea of building mega-clinics. “In my opinion, if you want to be competitive in the Arab world, you cannot have huge hospitals and medical institutions,” he said. “Large medical facilities are a burden, they do not operate smoothly, there are many complaints, there is high overhead and they cannot excel in every medical discipline. A general hospital may be excellent in some departments but never in all departments; there is a need to diversify and spread funds throughout many areas instead of focusing on one specialty.”

According to Dr. Cherfan, Lebanon does not need to hide behind other countries in the region. “We are one of the only places outside of the United States using the technique of KPro or the Boston Keratoprosthesis. This is an artificial cornea which can be used to replace a natural cornea that has failed or been rejected.”