News
Lebanon: Telemedicine as part of our humanitarian response
Publié le 16/04/2025 | Temps de lecture : 5 min
Lebanon is going through a multidimensional crisis which is having a profound effect on its healthcare system. Security tensions and population displacements linked to regional conflicts, economic collapse and a shortage of medical resources have seriously undermined access to healthcare for a large proportion of the population.
Against this backdrop, medical infrastructures are struggling to meet the growing needs of patients, particularly in remote areas.
Première Urgence Internationale in Lebanon has developed innovative solutions to guarantee the continuity of healthcare services. Among these initiatives, telemedicine has emerged as an essential lever for overcoming geographical obstacles and ensuring effective medical follow-up.
The rise of telemedicine: a paradigm shift
In recent years, and particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine has seen exponential development and adoption worldwide. This mode of remote consultation, based on advanced communication technologies, enables healthcare professionals to diagnose, treat and monitor their patients without the need to travel.
In Lebanon, this approach represents a major opportunity, particularly for vulnerable populations living in hard-to-reach areas. It improves access to care while optimizing medical resources, which are often limited due to the economic crisis and security tensions affecting the country.
How did Première Urgence Internationale implement telemedicine in Lebanon?
Although the Lebanese Medical Association has not officially validated telemedicine, Première Urgence Internationale obtained direct authorization from the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) to test this solution in several primary health centers. This initiative was based on a model for monitoring chronically ill patients already registered in the health centers supported by our teams.
This choice reduced the risks associated with telemedicine, by ensuring that remote consultations were aimed at patients whose medical history was well known to healthcare professionals. This step-by-step approach helped to ensure acceptance of the system by both patients and caregivers.
An approach based on patient evaluation and satisfaction
In order to assess the impact and acceptability of telemedicine, Première Urgence Internationale carried out a quantitative study of patients who had benefited from remote consultations in three of the health centers it supports: Shebaa, Khiam and Meriata.
The questionnaire, carried out by telephone with the patients’ consent, focused on three areas:
- General patient data,
- Evaluation of caregivers’ performance,
- Overall experience of remote consultation.
The results were shared with the Ministry of Health to demonstrate the relevance of this approach.
An innovative model for the future of healthcare in Lebanon?
Experience shows that telemedicine can play a key role in strengthening the healthcare system in Lebanon, particularly in a context of crisis. By adapting to local constraints and working closely with health authorities, this initiative paves the way for better patient care, while optimizing the use of available medical resources.
While crises persist and the challenges of access to healthcare remain, telemedicine could become an essential tool for ensuring equitable and sustainable healthcare services in Lebanon.
Rasha Al Askar
Health Coordinator at Première Urgence Internationale au Liban
“La télémédecine est devenue partie intégrante de la stratégie de préparation et de réponse aux urgences de Première Urgence Internationale, garantissant un accès continu aux services de santé essentiels pour les populations vulnérables.”
Read Rasha’s full interview below:
1. Why and How
did Première Urgence Internationale decide to integrate telemedicine into its operations in Lebanon?
Since late 2022, Lebanon has faced multiple crises, including COVID-19, the Beirut blast, and severe inflation, which led to a significant exodus of doctors and nurses. This shortage made it increasingly difficult to attract skilled healthcare professionals, particularly in rural areas.
To address this challenge, Première Urgence Internationale integrated telemedicine into its operations in 2023 under the NDICI framework. The worsening economic situation and the resulting brain drain, especially in key specialties within primary healthcare centers, highlighted the urgent need for alternative solutions. By late 2023, telemedicine became part of Première Urgence Internationale emergency preparedness and response strategy, ensuring continued access to essential healthcare services for vulnerable populations.
2. What were the main challenges
encountered when deploying telemedicine ?
Première Urgence Internationale faced several challenges when deploying telemedicine, from the initial proposal stage to its implementation. Despite its low cost and limited target population, it was difficult to highlight telemedicine as a key intervention.
During development, Première Urgence Internationale conducted an extensive literature review and analyzed best practices from other countries. However, resistance emerged early on, particularly from physicians in primary healthcare centers. Many were reluctant to participate, as telemedicine had not yet been recognized by medical authorities. Patients also faced obstacles, with limited access to phones or reliable internet connections.
Ensuring privacy and confidentiality posed another challenge, both for healthcare providers and patients. Additionally, poor internet connectivity, especially in southern Lebanon, further complicated implementation. This issue was exacerbated by ongoing conflicts, making stable communication even more difficult.
3. What lessons have you learned
from the program’s evaluation, and what are the prospects to strengthen its impact?
The pilot program successfully reached people with non-communicable diseases, enabling them to receive follow-up care from their primary healthcare physicians. This has strengthened the doctor-patient relationship and improved continuity of care.
Building on this success, I strongly recommend expanding telemedicine and telecounseling services to other specialties, such as mental health, prenatal care, and follow-up for stable cases of common acute conditions. This would further enhance access to essential healthcare services and ensure better long-term health outcomes.
4. What role
can telemedicine play in ensuring sustainable and equitable access to healthcare?
In the context of Lebanon’s multiple crises, telemedicine plays a crucial role in ensuring sustainable and equitable access to healthcare. With many primary healthcare centers either severely damaged, partially operational, or lacking certain specialties, expanding telemedicine is essential to bridging these gaps. Additionally, it helps reduce transportation barriers for the most vulnerable populations, allowing them to receive care for stable conditions remotely via phone or video call, without the burden of unnecessary travel costs.
