Hospitals Only Treating ‘Critical Cases’ during Strike

Hospitals were on Monday only admitting “critical cases” during a strike by hospitals and doctors for the refusal of the National Social Security Fund to increase physicians' fees.

The head of the Syndicate of Private Hospitals Suleiman Haroun told Free Lebanon Radio, that the hospitals will only admit patients with severe hemorrhage, those who have heart and respiratory problems and who undergo dialysis, and victims of traffic accidents.

The hospitals, their staff and doctors went on the one-week strike to protest the NSSF's delay in reimbursing hospital bills and its refusal to increase the fees of physicians.

“The hospitals won’t even admit urgent cases,” he stressed.

Haroun lamented that the private hospitals were unable to provide patients with medicine and pay the salaries of their staff following the government’s approval of a wage hike earlier this year.

Doctors and hospital staff also held a sit-in outside the Grand Serail to demand government action.