Deputy Prime Minister Health Minister Ghassan Hasbani called the cabinet to give priority to the matters related to Health Ministry, noting that the funds to buy drugs should be reconsidered since the Ministry’s budget has only increased by 2 percent over the last ten years, while the demand is exceeding 20% yearly. Hasbani stated that the Ministry has asked the government to allocate more funds last July to cover the required drugs, but they weren’t provided on the grounds of insufficient funds, while the healthcare matters can’t wait. Health Minister urged as well the cabinet to discuss and implement the Ministry’s Universal health Coverage.

Hasbani spoke during a news conference, as he addressed the issue of the drugs for the incurable diseases, in particular cancers, the adopted protocols and the mechanisms the Ministry adopts to distribute these drugs.

Health Minister added that the patients’ health can’t wait and diseases do not discriminate. “Some drugs are now available with the 2018 Budget, but I wanted to shed the light on this problem to prevent it from reoccurring.”

However the budget has not kept up with the increasing demand for drugs. The Cabinet should treat this file as an urgent matter. Although it will we be dissolved with the parliamentary elections, the citizen’s health should be ensured based on sustainable mechanisms.

The Ministry of Public Health is working with experts to develop a single national, comprehensive and unique protocol, knowing that the government pays the hospitalization fees based on the current protocol.