- 06
- Sep.
- 2025
A medical bridge between France and Lebanon: the Hôpital Français du Levant partners with Montpellier University Hospital (CHU Montpellier) to develop physician training, modernize surgical practices and strengthen clinical research.
The conference hall of the Hôpital Français du Levant buzzed on Friday with unusual excitement. Impeccable white coats, understated suits, attentive gazes: doctors, researchers, diplomats and institutional representatives gathered for a rare moment in the recent history of Lebanese medicine.
Beneath the large bay windows flooding the room with light, the official signing of the strategic partnership between Montpellier University Hospital (CHU Montpellier) and the Hôpital Français du Levant marked a major milestone in the internationalization of healthcare and knowledge.
The event was held in the presence of Ms. Anne Ferrer, the Director General of CHU Montpellier, Dr. Antoine Maalouf, the President of the Hôpital Français du Levant, Mr. Didier Vendrôme, representing the French Consulate General, Prof. Pierre Yared, the President of the Lebanese Hospitals Syndicate, as well as many medical experts and diplomatic figures.
‘Health Knows Neither Borders Nor Hierarchies’
In a solemn silence, Dr. Maalouf was the first to speak, his voice steady and firm.
“This hospital, modest in size but great in the determination of its medical team, has had the honor of receiving your support in preparing and successfully completing this agreement,” he declared, praising the joint efforts of Lebanese and French teams.
He then delivered a message that resonated like a credo:
“Health knows neither borders nor hierarchies; it rests on a living network where the greatest support the smallest.”
For him, this cooperation goes far beyond technical considerations:
“This is not just an administrative arrangement, but a moment of hope, dialogue and openness, which allows our ambitions to take shape and our modest home to shine in the light of your great expertise.”
Montpellier, a Partner of Excellence
Speaking in turn, Ms. Ferrer recalled the purpose of this partnership: raising medical standards, strengthening academic training, and bringing the teams on both sides of the Mediterranean closer together.
“Lebanon and France share a long tradition of medical cooperation. This agreement aims to strengthen that bond through a reciprocal exchange of knowledge, skills and experiences.”
Former Montpellier MP and Director of International Medical Relations Dr. Élie Abboud then revisited the origins of this ambitious project. He emphasized the importance of this rapprochement, the fruit of several years of dialogue, joint medical missions and academic partnerships.
A Multidimensional Partnership
This new agreement lays the groundwork for broad and structured cooperation between the two institutions. It provides for:
• Academic exchanges: advanced training for Lebanese doctors, residents and students, specialized internships in Montpellier, and practical sessions in Beirut.
• Joint research projects: multicenter studies on emerging diseases, therapeutic innovations and clinical trials.
• Development of advanced surgical practices: minimally invasive surgery, robotics, new operative techniques and specialized medical consultations.
• A permanent dialogue platform: direct exchanges between Lebanese experts and international specialists to update care recommendations and protocols.
A Breath of Hope for Lebanese Medicine
Beyond signatures and protocols, this partnership embodies an ambition: to restore the prominence of Lebanese medicine on the international stage.
For Dr. Maalouf, the agreement sends a strong message:
“Despite the crises, Lebanon remains a land of innovation, talent and expertise. Thanks to our French partners, today we are laying the foundations of a more modern, more humane and more patient-centered medicine.”
As participants left the room, conversations continued around the same conclusion: this alliance marks a turning point for the future of healthcare in Lebanon, by opening the Hôpital Français du Levant to an international scientific network that promises to accelerate medical innovation and the training of practitioners.
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