The Lebanese Healthcare System: Struggling Amid a Multi-Layered Crisis

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by one of our passionate readers, Mr. Jad Hamawi is a seventh-year medical student at the University of Balamand in Lebanon. The opinions expressed within reflect only the writer’s views and not necessarily The European Sting’s position on the issue.

Lebanon has undeniably been going through dire straits for the past 7 years. Amid the unfolding political instability, the country’s nominal GDP plummeted from $54.9 Billion in 2018 to $20.1 Billion in 2023, according to the World Bank. This has reclassified Lebanon from an upper-middle income status to a lower-middle income country. Since the civil war (1975-1990), a status quo has prevailed and persisted until these days with varying degrees of intensity. The sectarian and religious divisions, alongside the pervasive political corruption and lack of an established state of security both internally and on the borders, all had a drastic impact on vital services in the country, namely the healthcare system. 

The Beirut Port Explosion August 4, 2020: the devastation

Just as the country was trying to recover from a nationwide lockdown in aim of containing the COVID-19 spread, the capital, Beirut, experienced one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in modern history on the 4th of August 2020. According to a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report, 218 people died and over 7,000 were wounded. Many would compare this explosion to a massive airstrike amid an armed conflict—yet this was no act of war. The explosion caused significant damage to many healthcare facilities and personnel, despite their protected status as per international humanitarian law. 

“We didn’t realize that we were part of the victims instead of rushing to help them in the hospital. We couldn’t believe that we had escaped death after what happened in a place that was supposed to be the safest”, said Dr. Bartian to Al Jazeera. 

Given the Port of Beirut’s proximity to the city center, several major medical centers were affected. Within minutes, the wounded were flooding the emergency rooms. Consequently, many of the casualties had to be treated in the streets or parking lots until ambulances began transferring injuries to facilities outside the capital. The healthcare system paid a big price on that day: almost half of Beirut’s healthcare facilities became non-functional, with four severely damaged hospitals.  Healthcare workers had to operate in a very overwhelming, under-resourced and already short-staffed setting. Some were operating with the thought that their colleagues, friends, or relatives might have been injured or even died. In total, five nurses lost their lives on that day alongside hundreds of severely injured personnel.  

The Israeli War on Lebanon 2023-2024: the year that felt like a decade

Not a while ago, on the 27^th of November 2024, a ceasefire agreement was signed between Israel and Lebanon following almost 13 months of an unprecedented war. This time, the healthcare system had already been taking precautionary measures facing the early escalations since October 2023. The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health has activated its “Public Health Emergency Operations Center” whereby most hospitals (including central ones) were put on high alert, in addition to stockpiling health supplies and equipment. The World Health Organization (WHO) helped organize mass casualty management training and simulation drills to healthcare workers across the country. 

However, here comes the surprise. Nobody would have anticipated this war to be one of the longest and deadliest conflicts in modern Lebanese history. Throughout this 13-month conflict, it was estimated that more than 4,000 people have been killed and around 17,000 injured. This has been associated with a large-scale destruction and what has been described as the “largest wave of displacement Lebanon has seen in decades”. As per International Human Law, healthcare facilities, workers, shelters and ambulances are supposedly shielded in times of conflict. Yet Israeli aggression violated innumerable Lebanese healthcare facilities, workers, shelters and ambulances. As per the Lebanese Ministry of Health, the Israeli military attacked 67 hospitals, 33 primary care facilities, 177 ambulances, 60 fire trucks, killing 222 healthcare workers and leaving 330 injured. 

According to the WHO, “more health workers and patients have been killed proportionally in Lebanon than in Ukraine and Gaza”. If this means anything, it is a direct threat to the very existence of Lebanon’s healthcare system. Such violations undermine all efforts to  sustain this critical sector, which also delays the country’s recovery in the aftermath of the crisis.

Till When?

In a country shattered by instability and fiscal insecurity, the healthcare system is one of the most vital—yet most heavily burdened—sectors. Not only does it play a major role during times of crisis, but it also provides a sense of hope and security to the Lebanese citizens and enables a swifter recovery from any expected conflict. Historically, the Lebanese health sector has been supported by international organizations and stakeholders. A recent example is the WHO and the European Investment Bank (EIB)’s €10 million grant aimed to strengthening public health across Lebanon.

Reinforcing the Lebanese healthcare sector and helping it recover after each crisis is needed, not to say deeply appreciated. A more “sustainable” approach would be to grant this sector the environment it requires to thrive. This, in turn, calls for a thorough reassessment of the country’s current status quo—one long overdue for serious reflection.

About the Author

Jad Hamawi is a seventh-year medical student at the University of Balamand in Lebanon. He is an aspiring urologist and medical journalist, committed to employing his medical and scientific knowledge to advocate for human health—particularly in conflict zones and underserved communities. He is driven by a strong passion for political sciences and global geopolitics.