Al-Abyadh said after the meeting: “Today’s visit is for His Beatitude to discuss several issues, especially the issue of citizen’s health, as His Beatitude always carries the concerns of the citizens, and we briefed him on the health services program that we are doing for the citizen and the required services, especially in these very difficult circumstances, and everyone knows that we are suffering in The health sector, and the reason is due to the economic and financial conditions as a result of the exchange rate of the dollar, but as much as possible, we organize these services through several programs that we carry out in the ministry, especially the issue of drug tracking, which allowed us to organize more subsidized cancer medicines and distribute them to citizens. We also informed us about some hospital projects that We are working on it so that we can support medical tariffs more in order to help patients, especially kidney patients, and thank God we were able to reach a solution with hospitals and doctors in order to continue these services without the patient paying any differences.
He added, “We are in the time of fasting and closer to our Lord, and we repeat that it is true to see a health and financial crisis, but we also see a very big moral crisis, so we call on all officials and trade unions to show the responsibility that their positions oblige them to put the patient’s interest above other interests.”
In response to a question, he said: “The issue of cancer drugs and the dialysis patient is at the core of our priorities, and the funds in the SDA are sufficient, in my opinion, for a good period. This is in addition to the state working to find funding for this issue, and my visit some time ago to Washington and France was for the sake of Finding financing solutions in order to continue and support patients, but in the end, if we do not find a political solution that reflects positively on the financial situation, we can obtain loans from the IMF or others. It is certain that the health situation will be very difficult, and this is a call to speed up finding solutions that allow the country to start in the recovery phase.
Patriarch Al-Rahi also received the delegation of the “National Renewal” Association, headed by Charles Arbid, who briefed the Patriarch on the movement and activities carried out by the delegation, stressing that “the security concern is the basis, especially the election of a president for the republic, in addition to the economic, living and social conditions.”
Arbeed described the movement undertaken by the Patriarch, especially the call of the Christian representatives to a meeting of prayer and repentance without politics, stressing that “today more than ever we need a national dialogue and discussion,” hoping that the political forces will return to their senses so that we, as Lebanese, can find solutions for our homeland and not remain We are waiting for solutions abroad.
In response to a question, Arbeed said: “Our master always has optimism, faith and hope. This is Bkerki’s strength and we are always on its side. Among the visitors are also the Director General of the Republic Foundation, Dr. Antoine Choucair.
