Health minister backtracks and covers treatment for august 4 victims

On August 13, Lebanon’s health minister issued a decision granting victims injured in the Beirut Port Explosion 100% medical and hospitalization coverage, six years after the blast and following controversy sparked by William Noun over the difference in treatment between port victims and those injured in the pager explosions.

The ministry had initially responded to Noun’s criticism with a statement on August 5, while objections over unequal coverage were dismissed by some as incitement. Just eight days later, the minister signed a new decision guaranteeing full coverage for port victims, including surgeries, hospitalization, and continued treatment.

The contradiction is hard to ignore. Victims of the pager explosions received swift support, while people injured in their homes, workplaces, and the streets of Beirut on August 4 waited six years for an explicit decision guaranteeing full coverage.

Providing treatment to pager victims is a healthcare duty, just as it is for port victims and every Lebanese citizen who needs care. But when access to healthcare appears to depend on political priority, a basic right risks becoming a privilege.

The Ministry of Health is responsible for all Lebanese, not for those closest to one political party or another.