The government of Lebanon seeks to restore the country as a leading destination for medical tourists.
The government of Lebanon seeks to restore the country as a leading destination for medical tourists.
As far back as 2001, the government set up a national commission for the development of health tourism with representatives from the ministries of health, tourism, environment, and information, as well as doctors, hospitals, hotels, travel agents and insurance companies.
Thousands of patients from neighbouring Arab countries used to go to Lebanon for treatment, but due to political tensions in recent years, the number from Gulf countries shrunk, which caused a decline in medical tourism numbers. Now, only Jordanians, Iraqis and some Arabs from African countries go to Lebanon.
Lebanon has 161 hospitals, with seven university hospitals, while many hospitals and clinics are accredited to the ISO 9000 standard. Lebanon offers specialist services in orthopaedics, spine treatment, organ transplant, and heart and arteries diseases plus advanced cancer treatment. Hospitals are international standard for treating critical diseases and performing complex surgical procedures that require precision and experience. Specialist clinics offer cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery.
Bhannes Medical Centre treats TB patients, plus offering physical rehabilitation, and services for children with special needs, such as suffering quadriplegia or needing dialysis. The clinic is also a specialist in the treatment of bone diseases. And it includes a drug addiction treatment facility, and a psychiatric centre, plus nursing care for the elderly.
Compared to many countries in Africa and the Middle East, health services are advanced and offer a wide range of treatment. The problem is how to change the image of the country and get more medical tourists from a wider range of countries. As yet, the government has no solution.
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