Private hospitals demand arrear payments

$80 million in unpaid government dues

The Syndicate of Hospitals called on the government to pay its financial dues to private hospitals valued at $80 million (without the NSSF dues).

The Ministry of Finance had approved the payment of these dues through treasury bills after securing Cabinet and Parliamentary agreement. But no payments were made to date.

“The total sum has accumulated over 11 years of deficits from 2000 to 2011,” said Fouad Alameh, Vice President of the Syndicate.

The Syndicate is conducting several meetings with the concerned ministers to solve this issue.

Concerning the military patients, the Syndicate asked the Ministry of Defense to review the financial ceiling for each hospital according to size, number of beds, medical departments, quality of medical services, and classification.

Alameh said: “This situation could prevent hospitals from paying some of their dues, including to doctors and suppliers.” He said that hospitals will keep on accepting patients from public institutions as long as it remains possible, “because the life of patients is our priority.”