Emigration of Doctors Threatens Hospitals in Lebanon

Emigration of Doctors Threatens Hospitals in Lebanon
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Emigration of Doctors Threatens Hospitals in Lebanon

Emigration of Doctors Threatens Hospitals in Lebanon

Beirut Port blast has exacerbated the crises endured by the healthcare sector in Lebanon and resulted in partial or complete destruction of many hospitals, leaving dozens of doctors and nurses jobless.

The economic situation in the country has already been deteriorating before the explosion. Salaries of the healthcare staff have been cut, their funds have been held in banks, like everyone else, and the dollar currency has been scarce in the Lebanese market.

Perhaps what made things worse is that the medical staff have to work for continuous hours, exposing themselves and their families to danger with the coronavirus outbreak and the record of about 500 new cases per day for a week now.

Instead of receiving incentives and rewards to motivate them to stay on COVID-19 frontlines, the austerity measures taken by private institutions in light of the growing economic and financial crisis included the medical sector.

This has prompted dozens of employees to submit immigration applications and respond to previous employment requests they received through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from countries such as England and Canada.

According to Head of the Doctors’ syndicate Sharaf Abu Sharaf, hundreds of doctors have submitted requests to withdraw their files in preparation for leaving the country.

Abu Sharaf warned of an imminent real disaster, pointing out that the United States and many European countries and neighboring Arab states have been keen to employ Lebanese doctors, nurses, and medical staff due to their great expertise, high educational level, as well as their eagerness to work.

He noted in his statements to Asharq Al-Awsat that the accumulating financial, economic, and banking crises have affected workers in this sector and their families.

The crisis has also lead several companies to stop contributing to covering the expenses of medical trips for doctors to participate in conferences abroad, he added.

All this has prompted doctors to search for job opportunities abroad in order to secure a better standard of living, and most importantly, safety and stability for their families, he stressed.

Abu Sharaf further revealed that many doctors in University hospitals have already begun their emigration procedures.

He affirmed that the Syndicate is committed to face this phenomenon and improve working conditions.

However, the official stressed that the situation is very difficult in the absence of minimum rights and social security after retirement.

The Order of Nurses in Lebanon issued a statement on Friday warning of the increased emigration of highly competent nursing workforce in search of better conditions.

It pointed out that this issue raises concerns about the future of the health sector in Lebanon and the profession itself.



Israel Sends Negotiators to Cairo to Extend Phase-one of Gaza Ceasefire

 Freed Palestinian prisoners gesture out of the windows as they arrive in a bus after being released from an Israeli jail as part of a ceasefire and a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, February 27, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled
Freed Palestinian prisoners gesture out of the windows as they arrive in a bus after being released from an Israeli jail as part of a ceasefire and a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, February 27, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled
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Israel Sends Negotiators to Cairo to Extend Phase-one of Gaza Ceasefire

 Freed Palestinian prisoners gesture out of the windows as they arrive in a bus after being released from an Israeli jail as part of a ceasefire and a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, February 27, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled
Freed Palestinian prisoners gesture out of the windows as they arrive in a bus after being released from an Israeli jail as part of a ceasefire and a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, February 27, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled

Israel announced on Thursday it was sending negotiators to Cairo for talks, seeking to extend a first phase of a ceasefire due to expire in two days, in the apparent aim of securing the release of more hostages while delaying any final deal on Gaza's future.

The announcement came after Hamas handed over four bodies of hostages, the last due to be released under the terms of the six-week first phase of the ceasefire that started on January 19. Talks have yet to begin on a second phase that would ultimately lead to a permanent end to the war.

Israel Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told reporters in Jerusalem the delegation would travel to Egypt to see whether there was common ground to negotiate an extension to the truce.

"We said we are ready to make the framework longer in return to release more hostages. If it is possible, we'll do that."

Two government officials told Reuters that Israel was seeking to extend the initial phase, with Hamas freeing three hostages each week in exchange for Palestinians held by Israel.

The warring sides have not spelled out what would happen beyond Saturday if the first phase of the ceasefire expires with no agreement. Egypt and Qatar are mediating between Israel and Hamas, with the backing of the United States.

The initial phase of the ceasefire included the handover of 33 Israeli hostages in return for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees held in Israeli jails. Fighting was paused and Israeli troops withdrew from some positions in Gaza.

Talks over the second phase, intended to secure the release of the remaining hostages and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, had been meant to start earlier this month.

Israel's government faces public pressure to stick to the ceasefire to free remaining hostages, while some within the right-wing government want to return to war to fulfil their objective of eradicating Hamas.