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ECONOMIC CRISIS

Hospitals to go on strike Thursday and Friday

Hospitals to go on strike Thursday and Friday

Caregivers work with patients in the triage room of the Hôtel-Dieu emergency room. (Credit: Marie Jo Sader/L'Orient-Le Jour)

BEIRUT — Hospitals will go on strike Thursday and Friday following a call from the Union of Hospital Owners and the Order of Doctors of Beirut and Tripoli. Any case considered non-urgent will be postponed, and only emergencies and dialysis cases will be admitted.

Here’s what we know:

    • On Thursday, a sit-in will be carried out by health sector staff in front of the headquarters of the Banque du Liban (BDL) at 11 a.m. in Hamra.

    • The President of the Order of Doctors of Beirut, Charaf Abou Charaf, told L’Orient-Le Jour that this strike is motivated by the banking restrictions imposed on hospitals and patients. “All the money we receive through third-party is blocked in the banks, and if we want to withdraw or pay, we are required to deduct large percentages from them,” Abou Charaf said.

    • “We have millions in the banks that we cannot use. We also notice that even the wealthy class” face difficulties in issuing payments, he added.

    • "Each time we complain, we are told that the BDL cannot release funds because the Finance Minister did not sign the authorisations,” continued Abou Charaf. And if this strike does not provoke any official action the health sector staff will escalate, he explained.

BEIRUT — Hospitals will go on strike Thursday and Friday following a call from the Union of Hospital Owners and the Order of Doctors of Beirut and Tripoli. Any case considered non-urgent will be postponed, and only emergencies and dialysis cases will be admitted.Here’s what we know:    • On Thursday, a sit-in will be carried out by health sector staff in front of the headquarters...