Strengthening Emergency Medical Services in Lebanon

Abstract

The K2P Policy Dialogue, conducted on June 2, 2017, hosted 20 diverse stakeholders from multiple EMS disciplinary backgrounds. These included representatives from the: Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), Lebanese Red Cross (LRC), Civil Defense (CD), Syndicate of Hospitals, Order of Physicians, Order of Nurses, Internal Security Forces, Lebanese Armed Forces, APIS Health Consulting Group, BISCO, International Academies of Emergency Dispatch, AUBMC, Lebanese American University, Local and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) such as Al Risala Scouts organization, Health Islamic Society, Palestinian Red Crescent Society, International Committee of the Red Cross, International Federation of the Red Cross, Directors of Hospitals Emergency Departments, physicians, researchers, and students. The policy dialogue was facilitated by Dr. Fadi El Jardali, the Director of the K2P Center, in the presence of Dr. Walid Ammar, the Director General of the MOPH and Georges Kettaneh Secretary General of the Lebanese Red Cross. Dialogue participants discussed the overall framing of the problem of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Lebanon. They all acknowledged the existence of the problem and agreed on the need to focus on the delivery of care in pre-hospital settings. They deliberated the importance of enhancing emergency management with all stakeholders by pointing out the importance of addressing all factors leading to the problem under governance, delivery and financing of the EMS system.