A patient undergoing dialysis. (Credit: AFP / Illustration photo)
Lebanese caretaker Minister of Health Firass Abiad announced Wednesday that dialysis will now be priced according to the parallel market exchange rate according to a statement published by the National News Agency.
In a meeting with the president of the private hospitals union, Sleiman Haroun, an agreement was reached to develop a financing mechanism for dialysis sessions. They agreed to adopt a non-fixed rate based on the parallel market exchange rate.
The agreement also stipulates that neither the patient, the hospital where the dialysis is performed, nor the treating physician will have to pay any additional fees, and that all costs will be fully covered by the Health Ministry if patients do not have any other coverage.
"Dialysis in Lebanon can be covered by several entities: insurance, cooperatives, the army ... In order for the costs of dialysis to be paid by the ministry, the patient must have no other coverage, hence the name 'insurance of last resort'," Abiad explained to L'Orient-Le Jour.
"This coverage is active in any medical institution, public or private, that has signed an agreement with the ministry. The list of our partners is available on the ministry's website. A patient can also inquire directly with the facility of their choice," Abiad added.
In 2022, the private hospitals union indicated that health facilities may refuse to treat dialysis patients covered by the Health Ministry because the state had not paid them the amounts due for 2022, as such payments require a decision by the caretaker cabinet.
The union then said hospitals will be obliged to bill dialysis patients covered by the ministry for the cost of their treatment.
Regarding payment delays from the state to hospitals and doctors, the agreement also provides a mechanism between the Ministries of Health and Finance to accelerate the processing of invoices and payment to treatment centers and doctors.
Under this mechanism, reimbursement payments will not exceed one month.
The ministry said the emergency number 1214 can be called for any complaints.