Abou Faour: Contracts with Second Category Hospitals Suspended

Health Minister Wael Abu Faour stated on Thursday that since the year 2008 billions of Lebanese pounds have been squandered in second category hospitals and benefited by those not eligible to benefit from, the state-run National News Agency reported.

About Faour added that contracts with all second category health institutions have been suspended until the results of the investigations in that case are done.

“Efforts to combat corruption continue in order to preserve the health of all citizens,” stressed the Minister in a press conference.

He announced that results of investigations conducted for over two months by the ministry, showed “neglect with regard to public money.”

“We found unacceptable violations in some institutions. We even found names of listed patients who have actually left the facility but the ministry continues to pay for fees of their stay,” said Abou Faour.

“One of the institutions, which was hospitalizing only 10 patients, had the names of families of the employees listed in their records,” he added.

“We will not accept any leniency in our fight against corruption and maintaining public money," stressed Abou Faour, revealing that he will refer three doctors in the ministry to the public prosecutor.

“They will be suspended from work, and their licenses canceled.”

“We will restore the funds from the institutions that took money from the state estimated at more than LBP 1.5 billion,” he concluded.

D.A.