Lebanon’s Rafik Hariri University Hospital Suffers from Neglect in the Midst of Crises

FILE PHOTO: People wearing face masks walk outside Rafik Hariri hospital in Beirut, Lebanon February 21, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
FILE PHOTO: People wearing face masks walk outside Rafik Hariri hospital in Beirut, Lebanon February 21, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
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Lebanon’s Rafik Hariri University Hospital Suffers from Neglect in the Midst of Crises

FILE PHOTO: People wearing face masks walk outside Rafik Hariri hospital in Beirut, Lebanon February 21, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
FILE PHOTO: People wearing face masks walk outside Rafik Hariri hospital in Beirut, Lebanon February 21, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

All eyes turn to Rafik Hariri University Hospital whenever there is a public health crisis caused by an epidemic. It is also where many of those injured in wars or security incidents are taken for treatment. However, it has been neglected by the Lebanese state, especially the ministry of health, which has taken it out of the list of Lebanon’s most modern hospitals.

With the spread of the coronavirus, however, it has come under the limelight since it is the only health center that is able to treat patients who have caught the virus.

The Rafik Hariri University Hospital building is located on a spacious property in Beirut's Bir Hassan area, and consists of three stories with 400 beds, making it one of the largest hospitals in Lebanon.

The health ministry has equipped a hospital ward, which includes 137 beds, so that it can receive those infected or suspected of being infected with the virus, and it is ready to turn all its departments into a health center for infected people in the event of an increase in the number of patients.

Despite the responsibilities assigned to the hospital, it suffers from two major issues. The first revolves around the need to improve its equipment. The other is the mistreatment of its employees - whether in administrative or medical positions - who suffer from delays in the payment of their salaries compared to other public sector staff.

Hospital personnel protested near its headquarters on Wednesday to remind officials of their demands, and they made their voices heard to Minister of Health Hamad al-Hassan in conjunction with the press conference that was held to update the public on the status of coronavirus patients in Lebanon.

Hospital employees demanded their right to benefit from the pay raises to public sector employees that they are entitled to.

There are many reasons behind the state’s neglect of this hospital, a source from inside the Rafik Hariri University Hospital told Asharq Al-Awsat, the first being that private hospitals in its vicinity are owned by political figures that have no interest in developing the institution. The second is that health ministers have been dealing with the hospital in accordance with their political background and interests. They link any initiative to developing the facility or its medical and nursing staff to political services.

A ministry source denied these claims. “Attending to the needs of Rafik Hariri University Hospital is a top priority for the ministry,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The official also denied that political considerations interfered with its management. “Most of spending on hospitalization goes to this hospital, taking into consideration the share received by private and public universities for treating patients at the ministry's expense”.

He considers that “the employees' objections are shared by public sector staff in general; it is not a problem unique to the ministry of health.”



What Might Happen in Israel’s Parliamentary Dissolution Vote?

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid takes part in a demonstration against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his nationalist coalition government's judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv, Israel June 17, 2023. (Reuters)
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid takes part in a demonstration against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his nationalist coalition government's judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv, Israel June 17, 2023. (Reuters)
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What Might Happen in Israel’s Parliamentary Dissolution Vote?

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid takes part in a demonstration against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his nationalist coalition government's judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv, Israel June 17, 2023. (Reuters)
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid takes part in a demonstration against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his nationalist coalition government's judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv, Israel June 17, 2023. (Reuters)

Opposition party Yesh Atid has submitted a vote to dissolve the Israeli parliament, known as the Knesset, for June 11, amid rising tensions in the ruling right-wing coalition.

Here are some key facts about the Knesset, the procedure for a dissolution vote, which would lead to an election, and possible scenarios.

KNESSET COMPOSITION

Total seats: 120

Simple majority needed to pass the vote: 61

Current government majority: 8 seats

LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE

The Yesh Atid motion faces four votes with an absolute majority of the Knesset required in the final stretch to become law, thereby bringing a premature end to the legislature and triggering an election, which must be held within five months of the motion passing.

In practice, if the initial vote passes, the subsequent stages could occur all the same day or take months.

OPPOSITION STRATEGY

A bill to dissolve parliament will only be brought to a vote if Yesh Atid is confident of securing a majority. If not, it can withdraw the motion anytime before June 11, preventing a vote.

ALTERNATIVE SCENARIOS

Ultra-Orthodox coalition parties could decide to leave the government to protest at its failure to put forward a law granting exemption from military service to ultra-Orthodox men. At the same time, they might refuse to vote for dissolution of parliament, allowing a minority government to continue.

COALITION NUMBERS

The coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has a majority of around 68 seats in parliament, though its size has fluctuated due to internal political shifts.

The two coalition ultra-Orthodox parties, United Torah Judaism and Shas, hold 18 seats collectively. If they united with the opposition, they would have enough votes to dissolve parliament and trigger early elections a year ahead of schedule.