Nassereddine announces plans to strengthen healthcare quality in Lebanon
Minister of Public Health Rakan Nassereddine inaugurated the 2026 Quality Experts Forum, organized by the Ministry of Public Health to mark World Quality Day under the theme Quality Drives Performance.
The forum brought together hospital accreditation coordinator Rita Freiha, quality managers and healthcare specialists from across Lebanon to discuss patient safety, healthcare standards and the future of hospital accreditation.
Participants emphasized the importance of making hospital accreditation mandatory, noting that the process currently remains voluntary.
Addressing the gathering, Nassereddine reaffirmed his commitment to prioritizing healthcare quality despite severe budgetary constraints.
He outlined measures to strengthen pharmaceutical oversight, including updated drug evaluation guidelines aligned with World Health Organization standards and the suspension of certain medications pending further assessment.
The minister also announced that the ministry had signed an agreement with the Lebanese University to establish a central reference pharmaceutical laboratory, restoring a facility that had been closed for more than three decades. The laboratory is expected to open soon to assess the quality and efficacy of medicines.
Turning to hospital services, Nassereddine highlighted improvements in hospitalization coverage and the allocation of specialized procedures according to hospitals’ capabilities.
He cited expanded coverage for complex procedures, including bone marrow transplants and cochlear implants, with scoliosis surgeries expected to be introduced soon.
Nassereddine revealed that Lebanon’s healthcare coverage requirements are estimated at approximately $1 billion, compared with an available ministry budget of just $300 million.
He stressed that limited resources should not compromise healthcare quality, pointing to strengthened medical oversight, additional supervising physicians, staff rotation and updated performance monitoring standards.
The minister reaffirmed the importance of hospital accreditation based on international standards and announced the ministry’s readiness to cover accreditation and classification costs for any public hospital choosing to participate.
Although accreditation remains voluntary, he said the initiative could pave the way toward mandatory implementation by encouraging hospitals to meet recognized quality standards.
Nassereddine also highlighted Lebanon’s reputation for medical expertise, accessibility of physicians and efficient emergency services, while acknowledging that security instability continued to hinder medical tourism.
We want to light a candle rather than curse the darkness, he concluded, reaffirming the ministry’s determination to improve healthcare services within its available resources.
