The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) announced Thursday that its coverage of drug prices and hospital rates in Lebanon has returned to pre-crisis levels — 80 percent and 90 percent, respectively. The fund’s director, Mohammad Karakeh, had announced the measure in late March.

In a statement, the NSSF said it had “increased the rates of medications reimbursed by the National Social Security Fund, based on the official medication price index published by the Ministry of Health on March 4, 2025, following classification and price reassessment by NSSF supervisors and pharmacists.” The increase applies to about 4,200 medications used to treat cancerous, incurable, chronic and acute diseases.

Roughly 1,067 medications that were not previously covered are now reimbursed at 80 percent of their pre-crisis price. These include antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, anti-inflammatories, ulcer medications and drugs used to treat allergies, vomiting, colic, asthma, hormonal conditions and infertility.

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“These measures help reduce the financial burden on the insured and their families, who are exposed daily to health issues requiring these types of medications,” the NSSF said. “With the inclusion of this new category, the NSSF now covers all treatments and medications listed in the Ministry of Health’s registry — 80 percent of their pharmacy price, 90 percent of their hospital rate and 95 percent for cancerous and incurable diseases.”

On Tuesday, NSSF Director-General Mohammad Karakeh also announced an increase in radiotherapy fees for cancer treatment, adding that efforts are underway with the Wage Indexation Committee to boost the fund’s revenue.

Since the onset of Lebanon’s financial crisis in late 2019, NSSF coverage had collapsed alongside the value of the Lebanese pound. Partial restoration began in 2022.