Lebanon has regained its voting rights at the World Health Organization (WHO) after a two-year suspension due to unpaid membership fees.
Speaking from the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Minister of Public Health Dr. Rakan Nassereddine said the reinstatement “restores Lebanon’s influential role in the organization’s discussions and specialized committees” and “reflects our seriousness in engaging with the international community.”
In a meeting with WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, discussions centered on the toll of repeated crises on Lebanon’s healthcare system, including the recent war, the destruction of medical infrastructure and the burden of hosting Syrian refugees.
Dr. Tedros praised Lebanon for its resilience and expressed hope for the ceasefire to hold to allow reconstruction to begin. He also thanked Lebanon for all it has done to support Syrian refugees despite the immense pressures.
Nassereddine reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to reform, stating, “We are moving forward with necessary health reforms, starting with strengthening primary healthcare centers.” He emphasized the need for long-term collaboration “to face post-war health challenges like physical disabilities and mental health issues,” adding that crises like the economic collapse, COVID-19 and the Beirut port explosion have left lasting scars.
He called for sustainable medication access and highlighted how “climate change is now a serious factor in the spread of diseases,” reiterating the call for a solution to the refugee crisis.
Nassereddine met with WHO Regional Director Dr. Hanan Balkhy to discuss key projects, including the National Drug Agency and the central lab. Balkhy emphasized the need for “stronger governance and sustainable funding,” and invited Lebanon to nominate experts for WHO collaborations.
The minister also met with health officials from Kuwait, Jordan and France, as well as representatives from GAVI and the Global Fund, to secure support for hospital development, drug regulation and the HPV vaccine rollout.
“Lebanon’s health system needs urgent support to recover,” Nassereddine concluded, stressing that international partnerships are crucial to “strengthen services for all Lebanese, especially the most vulnerable.”
Comments