Health

The deepening economic crisis in Lebanon doesn't stop for cancer patients

Wael Hamzeh Beirut, Sep 17 (EFE).- (Camera: Wael Hamzeh ) After over two months of fighting cancer at home, Salma’s mother has landed a coveted hospital bed in a public hospital outside Beirut but that does not guarantee her access to treatment amid Lebanon’s deepening economic crisis. FOOTAGE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEMATOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY AT RAFIC HARIRI UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL.SOUNDBITES FROM THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEMATOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY AT RAFIC HARIRI UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, ISSAM CHEHADE; AND SALMA, THE DAUGHTER OF A CANCER PATIENT ADMITTED TO THE RAFIC HARIRI UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL.TRANSLATIONHead of the Department of Hematology and Oncology at Rafic Hariri University Hospital, Issam Chehade:1. "We are heading towards a catastrophic situation if the crisis continues like this and no solutions are found."2. "We are in the loop that the (Central) Bank of Lebanon approved it and the shipment will arrive. It is part of our daily routine to call the drug companies and they tell us next week."3. "And when the shipment arrives it is very limited and is distributed according to priority."Salma, daughter of a cancer patient admitted to Rafic Hariri University Hospital, outside Beirut:4. "I started looking for other alternatives such as the Syrian or Iranian version of these drugs, but they harm her, she cannot sleep."5. "We could not admit her to a hospital because she does not have health insurance and it is very difficult to put someone in a hospital through the Ministry of Health."