26 July 2025 – In Lebanon, I stood within the ruins of a bombed-out major well being care centre within the southern suburbs of Beirut. I met moms doing their utmost to maintain their kids wholesome amid rising costs and dwindling choices. And I witnessed the quiet dedication of well being employees who proceed to point out up every day to serve their communities.
With nationwide leaders, I mentioned pressing well being priorities: the rising burden of substance use with the President of the Republic, the crucial want for entry to medicines with the Speaker of Parliament, the necessity for complete most cancers care with the First Woman, and the essential position of a nationwide regulatory authority with the Minister of Public Well being.
I met a Finance Minister wrestling with unattainable numbers. We mentioned the necessity for devoted well being price range strains throughout all related ministries to make sure cross-cutting well being points are addressed extra successfully throughout authorities.
I additionally heard from companions from the UN system, academia, and civil society—working tirelessly to guard, present and promote well being within the face of overlapping crises.
In all places I went, I used to be struck by the immense potential of this nation, the expertise of its individuals, and the promise it nonetheless holds for the long run.
However I used to be additionally aware of the profound challenges Lebanon faces: ongoing hostilities, a extreme financial downturn, an overstretched well being system, and one of many highest refugee burdens per capita on the earth.
The well being sector has proven outstanding resilience—however the wants are huge and rising. Trauma care, psychological well being providers, important medicines, and rehabilitation and assistive merchandise for individuals with disabilities are in pressing demand.
Most hospitals function at half capability because of fiscal constraints. Fragile infrastructure has left tens of millions with out dependable entry to wash water, making cholera and acute watery diarrhoea persistent threats. Psychological well being wants are hovering, particularly amongst those that have misplaced properties or family members. Meals insecurity now impacts over a fifth of the inhabitants. Noncommunicable illnesses, already the main reason behind loss of life, are more and more tough to handle as entry to medicines and continuity of care are disrupted.
The mixed restoration and reconstruction invoice for the well being and water sectors exceeds US$600 million. But the nationwide treasury is severely depleted, and fewer than half the well being wants outlined within the 2025 Lebanon Response Plan have been funded—with a good bleaker outlook for 2026.
The underside line: each home and worldwide funding in well being is urgently wanted. However fiscal area is extraordinarily restricted, and the worldwide group has but to reply on the scale required.
Nonetheless, there’s progress. Along with the Ministry of Public Well being, we launched the WHO–Lebanon Nation Cooperation Technique 2026–2029—a roadmap for well being safety, system restoration and reform, and motion on the determinants of well being, together with environmental well being.
Lebanon can also be endeavor a evaluate of its nationwide most cancers management technique, in efforts to sort out one of many area’s highest most cancers burdens.
Pharmaceutical safety is rightly excessive on the agenda, with plans underway to determine a Lebanese Drug Authority. No well being system can operate with out dependable entry to inexpensive, high quality medicines.
A multi-sectoral nationwide technique on substance use can also be being up to date.
Sensible funding, worldwide solidarity, and a dedication to public well being from the bottom up may nonetheless flip the tide.
We have now a slim however crucial window of alternative earlier than wants escalate additional and the implications of inaction grow to be irreversible. However sustained progress depends upon a measure of stability—sufficient to revive investor confidence, draw expert well being professionals again residence, and rebuild a well being system as soon as considered one of many most interesting within the area.
Regardless of the odds, WHO stands firmly with Lebanon. We’ll proceed to work facet by facet with nationwide authorities and companions to guard well being, strengthen methods, and guarantee nobody is left behind.
