The dollar crisis is now affecting the health sector in Lebanon, amid talk about some private hospitals changing their fees such that their services are priced based on an adjusted exchange rate, falling between the official and black market rate. A dollar will be priced 3,950 Lebanese pounds. This comes at a time when the health sector as a whole is facing a real crisis, as the Central Bank has decided to lift its subsidy on medicines, which are imported at the official rate.
The head of the Syndicate of Private Hospital Owners, Suleiman Haroun, denied the claims that private hospitals will adopt a new rate. In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, he says: “One hospital set the fee based on a non-official rate, but for patients who are not insured by any government agency, meaning that it does not affect health guarantors.” Rather, it concerns insurance companies that have agreed on terms with the hospital.”
The Caretaker Minister of Health Hamad Hassan previously confirmed that increasing hospital fees and the price of medicine is not on the table, so long as the official dollar exchange rate remains unchanged. After a meeting with the social security providers and private hospitals, he pointed out that “increasing hospital fees remains subject to the official exchange rate set by the Central Bank, and measures will be taken against those who act otherwise."
Concerning citizens’ complaints about being forced to pay the difference in hospital fees imposed on social security providers, based on an exchange rate for the dollar reaching 8,000 pounds in some cases, Haroun explained that this only applies to medical supplies because the Central bank supports 85 percent its price, and social security has not changed the price.
Director-General of the National Social Security Fund Muhammad Karaki also confirms that citizens are paying the difference in price imposed on social security providers, pointing out that social security “is bound by an official fee set by a specialized committee based on clear mechanisms, and these fees are priced in Lebanese pounds.”
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Karaki pointed out: “Recently, many hospitals have violated the regulations on fees, especially concerning the fees for coronavirus treatment and medical supplies. Citizens are also paying for medical supplies that are not listed by social security at the black market rate.”
He adds that the difference is not grave at the moment. However, he points out that an eventual lifting of subsidies would lead to medical disaster, warning against taking such a step before finding mechanisms that guarantee citizens’ health.
