Abou Faour Hopes Health Ministry Campaigns become 'Reformist Approach'
Health Minister Wael Abou Faour expressed hope on Sunday that his food safety and medication campaigns would develop to become a “comprehensive reformist approach.”
“The campaign was the policy of one ministry but turned into an approach adopted by the cabinet,” Abou Faour pointed out.
Concerning his decision to compel doctors to use a unified prescription form and to merge the payment of hospital and doctor fees, Abou Faour considered it “an essential demand that he will not back down on,” calling on doctors to play their role in benefiting citizens.
“We are inclined to fortify the conditions of doctors... but our main goal is to protect and treat the people justly,” the minister stressed.
Abou Faour noted that those who are criticizing his decision “have suspicious motives,” slamming the Order of Physicians for not abiding by the law.
The Parliament endorsed in 1994 a draft-law to merge the payment of hospital and doctor fees, however, it hasn't been implemented. Another law was approved in 2010 to monitor the selling of medication by pharmacists to patients through a legal consent between the doctor and his patient when an agreement is made to switch to generic drugs.
The Order of Physicians previously criticized the health minister's decision, challenging it before the Shura Council.
Abou Faour, who is loyal to Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat, said that the “party aims at clamping down on corruption.”
“Maybe we are being delusional,” the minister added, saying: “We are honored to try... the results we reached by the food safety and medication campaigns confirm that there is a chance for reforms.”
Abou Faour had kicked off in October a food safety campaign aimed at cracking down on violators and improving health standards in Lebanon.
A number of restaurants, slaughterhouses, and warehouses have been shut down due to their violations, while others have sought to meet the ministry's conditions.
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