WHO Regional Director Dr Hanan Balkhy concludes a visit to Lebanon and calls for urgent investment in health

4 August 2025, Beirut, Lebanon – The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy has concluded a 3-day – from 23 to 25 July 2025 – official visit to Lebanon. Dr Balkhy met with national authorities, health workers, civil society actors and international partners and witnessed firsthand the profound challenges facing the Lebanese health system.

At the heart of the mission was a call for increased domestic and international investment in health as Lebanon navigates multiple overlapping crises, including economic collapse, protracted conflict and one of the highest refugee burdens per capita globally.

Lebanon and WHO launch the 2026–2029 Country Cooperation Strategy

29 July 2025, Beirut, Lebanon – Last week, the Ministry of Public Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Lebanon Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) 2026–2029. The 4-year framework aims to guide recovery and advance towards a resilient, inclusive health system.

Developed through an extensive consultation process, the CCS aligns with Lebanon’s National Health Strategy (Vision 2030), WHO’s 14th General Programme of Work and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).

Lebanon’s health system is under enormous pressure. Years of economic collapse and political uncertainty, combined with the latest wave of hostilities, have damaged hospitals and worsened the brain drain.