October 27, 2026
The Minister of Public Health, Rakan Nasser Al-Din, announced the launch of a new phase of the plan to expand hospital coverage in the country, which includes the start of covering cochlear implant operations for children between the ages of one and six years, in a step aimed at alleviating the financial burden on families.
Nasser Al-Din explained, during a press conference held for this purpose, that the program targets children who suffer from profound hearing problems, highlighting the vital role of this intervention in enabling them to develop speech and communication skills, overcome social isolation, and enhance their self-confidence. He described the initiative as “good news for children and their families who are struggling to afford treatment,” stressing that the Ministry continues to expand the scope of health care according to a clear hierarchy of priorities, despite the financial hardship and difficult circumstances.
Regarding the details of the financial coverage, the Minister of Health indicated that the total cost of the cochlear implant operation amounts to about 22 thousand dollars, of which the Ministry bears 80%, with appropriate financial dues allocated to both the hospital and the surgeon. The coverage is not limited to surgery and the device only, but also extends to 50 subsequent rehabilitation and training sessions, to ensure continuity of treatment and follow-up of children to achieve the maximum possible benefit from medical intervention.
Regarding the mechanism for selecting beneficiaries, Nasser Al-Din indicated the formation of a scientific committee that includes an elite group of doctors and academics, which is responsible for identifying cases according to approved scientific standards and in cooperation with a number of university hospitals.
This step falls within a gradual plan launched by the Ministry of Health to expand hospital coverage, which was preceded by several steps that included 100% full coverage for the treatment of uninsured Lebanese in government hospitals, in addition to covering life-saving operations such as heart surgeries and bone marrow transplants.
The Minister revealed that cochlear implant operations represent the launch of the second package of new medical services, which will expand successively to include operations to correct scoliosis in children, and treat their cases of epilepsy via the vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) device, in addition to medical interventions specific to clots and strokes.
Nasser Al-Din stressed that the initiative represents a humanitarian and moral responsibility, given the negative repercussions of hearing loss on the child’s ability to acquire speech and communication, stressing the Ministry’s commitment to stand by children and their families.
At the end of his speech, he thanked the university hospitals that expressed their willingness to participate in the program, and everyone who contributed to the completion of this file. Specifically, Dr. Gabriel Dounia from the American University of Beirut, the Medical Care Directorate represented by Dr. Bernard Ghanem, the Minister’s Advisor, Dr. Joseph Helou, and members of the work team. He stressed that the ministry’s budget is still limited, but good management of priorities and benefiting from any available financial margin allows for continuing to add new services and coverage for patients.
