In the third and final segment on the cost of medical care in Lebanon, the price tag on military and civilian healthcare will be explored.

Medical care for the military


Number of beneficiaries

This constitutes the medical care of military personnel and their families, Internal Security Forces, General Security, State Security and the Customs Bureau.

The number of beneficiaries is estimated at 475,000 (13% of the Lebanese population), distributed as follows:

• 370,000 military personnel, including families

• 80,000 in the Internal Security Forces

• 15,000 in General Security

• 5,000 in State Security

• 5,000 in the Customs’ Bureau

Cost of inpatient medical care

This cost has been rising due to the increase in the number of people covered (or hospitalization days) as well as the increased cost of medical services and the price of medication. Table 1 illustrates the evolution of rising costs over the last seven years.

One conclusion that can be drawn from Table 2, which presents the number and duration of military cases, is that a decrease in the number of cases was met or offset by an increase in the number of hospitalization days.

Moreover, the cost of hospitalization at the expense of the military is 5% lower than that at the expense of the Ministry of Public Health and 50% lower than the Cooperative’s cost. On the other hand, inpatient costs are 25% higher than those at the expense of the NSSF.

Medical care at the expense of Lebanese citizens


2.8 million citizens benefit from medical care at the expense of some governmental unit, leaving 800,000 people who bear the cost of inpatient medical care personally, whether directly or through a private insurance company.

Based on a study conducted by Information International, 400,000 people are responsible for their inpatient medical bill. This is a significant figure since these citizens do not benefit from reductions granted by hospitals to governmental insurance units and private insurance companies. Their expenses are estimated at LL 60 billion per year, whereas LL 200 billion per year is paid out to insurance companies.

Conclusion

The cost of inpatient medical care for 3.6 million citizens reaches LL 800 billion annually, equivalent to an average of LL 222,000 per person.

This is an elevated cost for the quality of services offered and calls for a reconsideration of health policy to decrease government expenditures and personal expenditures in order to provide insurance and eliminate medical care as a worry.

The disparities in health care costs call for a harmonization and unification of fees, procedures and coverage required for inpatient and outpatient medical care at the expense of the government, in order to minimize costs and promote a unified state medical care scheme.