The Minister of Public Health in the caretaker government, Dr. Firas Abiad, and the President of the Lebanese Doctors Syndicate in Beirut, Professor Youssef Bakhash, held a joint press conference at the House of Doctors in Furn El Chebbak, in the presence of the President of the North Doctors Syndicate, Mohammad Safi, the Nurses Syndicate, Abir Alameh, the Private Hospitals Syndicate, Suleiman Haroun, the Dentists Syndicate, Ronald Younes, the Medical Supplies Importers Syndicate, Salma Assi, the Laboratory Owners, Rabih Hamoush, and the President of the Nutritionists Syndicate, Natalie Yaghi.
In his speech, Al-Abyad stressed that as a doctor, he feels proud of the role played by Lebanon’s doctors and all health workers. He added that this sector was able, through the emergency plan, to receive the large numbers of wounded in recent days thanks to the cooperation that occurred when the plan was developed, as all sectors and existing unions played a role in that, and the necessary training and plans were established, whether at the level of hospitals or any other health institutions, so that the plan would give the result that everyone saw.
Al-Abyad addressed the issue of caring for the wounded, noting that it is not limited to specialized care only, but may also require multiple operations, rehabilitation efforts, intervention from multiple parties in the health sector, and the need for certain supplies, psychological and mental support, rehabilitation, and optics. Minister Al-Abyad stressed that all capabilities are available in Lebanon, and the ministry will fully coordinate with all unions regarding specialized care, and will cover the costs, and coordination will take place between hospitals and the Doctors Syndicate to cover any shortage in medical expertise in this matter.
Regarding the solidarity shown by our brothers in neighboring countries and a number of Lebanese expatriates in sending medical delegations to Lebanon, the Minister of Public Health explained that the Lebanese people appreciate all aid and support coming from abroad, adding that work in this field must be done in an organized manner and under the umbrella of the Ministry of Public Health and the relevant unions. He said that any health worker or doctor who comes to Lebanon needs to coordinate with the relevant unions, especially the doctors’ unions in Beirut and the North, because this cooperation will ensure the provision of good quality services and continuous follow-up of patients.
Al-Abyad recalled that 98 percent of patients were treated by our doctors and specialists, so that the health sector in Lebanon has exceeded all expectations. On the subject of financial dues, he pointed out that hospitals and the medical sector have not yet received their dues and fees as a result of the efforts they made during the port explosion disaster four years ago. None of them hesitated today to answer the call of duty and responsibility during the recent Israeli attacks. Minister Al-Abyad stressed that the state must fulfill its duty towards them so that this does not happen again, adding that the implementation of the dues payment mechanism will begin next week and the necessary decisions will be issued to cover part of the costs, as it is not possible to fulfill all rights due to the great sacrifices that have been made.
Professor Bakhash renewed, in his name and in the name of the Syndicate Council, his condemnation of the crime that took place in civilian areas and against citizens, and we ask for mercy for the martyrs and a speedy recovery for all the injured. He said: “We note in this context that the hospital sector, with all its components, hospitals, fellow doctors, nurses and ambulance teams, was able to control the situation at a record speed, and that the majority of the injured received emergency surgical treatment, whether in the face and eyes, or the upper limbs in the hand and fingers, or the abdominal wall, or fractures in the pelvis and the rest of the body. Here, I extend my thanks to all of them and all workers in the health sector for their national stance and their rapid and organized performance. Today, we are on the verge of the second phase, which will be longer and more difficult, because this type of injury requires numerous surgical interventions to avoid infections and side effects on the one hand, and to prepare each injured person for the necessary reconstructive surgeries, whether in the eye, face, upper limbs, hands and fingers, to restore their functions normally. These surgical and reconstructive interventions require specialists in these fields, and these specialists are available in Lebanon despite the challenges and previous waves of immigration that we know. They are in full cooperation with the Doctors Syndicates in Beirut and Tripoli, and I note in this context that the Doctors Syndicates coordinated from the first moment to accommodate the first wave and prepare For the second, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, we will be, as a group concerned with the health sector, the watchful eye on every injured person to provide the required medical or surgical service so that we can quickly reach the desired result and a sound and scientific recovery. In conclusion, I reiterate my thanks to all colleagues for the efforts they have made since the first moment, and I am not exaggerating if I assure you that there are colleagues who have performed surgical work for 48 continuous hours.
