26 July 2025 – In Lebanon, I stood in the ruins of a bombed-out primary health care centre in the southern suburbs of Beirut. I met mothers doing their utmost to keep their children healthy amid rising prices and dwindling options. And I witnessed the quiet determination of health workers who continue to show up each day to serve their communities.
With national leaders, I discussed urgent health priorities: the growing burden of substance use with the President of the Republic, the critical need for access to medicines with the Speaker of Parliament, the need for comprehensive cancer care with the First Lady, and the crucial role of a national regulatory authority with the Minister of Public Health.
I met a Finance Minister wrestling with impossible numbers. We discussed the need for dedicated health budget lines across all relevant ministries to ensure cross-cutting health issues are addressed more effectively across government.
I also heard from partners from the UN system, academia, and civil society—working tirelessly to protect, provide and promote health in the face of overlapping crises.
Everywhere I went, I was struck by the immense potential of this country, the talent of its people, and the promise it still holds for the future.
But I was also acutely aware of the profound challenges Lebanon faces: ongoing hostilities, a severe economic downturn, an overstretched health system, and one of the highest refugee burdens per capita in the world.
The health sector has shown remarkable resilience—but the needs are vast and growing. Trauma care, mental health services,