October 7, 2026
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Elias Bou Saab, announced, after the meeting of the joint parliamentary committees, the consensus of representatives on the necessity of passing a law that guarantees hospitalization for all. He explained, in a joint press conference with Representative Bilal Abdullah, that it was agreed to suspend the discussion on the sources of funding for the proposed compulsory comprehensive health coverage system law, to make room for communication with the Ministries of Finance and Public Health and to discuss the available options, stressing complete openness to amending the proposal to secure treatment for those who are unable, in light of the insufficient budgets of the Ministry of Health and the National Social Security Fund.
Bou Saab praised the efforts of the proposer, Representative Bilal Abdullah, and the subcommittee he headed to study the file, noting that the law proposal was included as a single item on the agenda due to its direct connection to the lives of citizens. He pointed out that the committees will continue to study the law in successive sessions, explaining that funding may be achieved through consensus with the government to secure it within the budget or through another mechanism, refusing to limit the discussion to imposing new taxes, and pointing out that addressing this file requires continuous efforts in view of the similar financial challenges faced by major and European countries.
Regarding the file of administrative decentralization, Bou Saab revealed the reactivation of the subcommittee charged with studying this proposal, while amending its membership to include new representatives, with him assuming its presidency to continue working seriously to complete the discussions on implementing the Taif Constitution and the election law. He responded to the media campaigns that linked the opening of this file to an attempt to divert attention from the disarmament issue, stressing that legislative work has nothing to do with that, and that the disarmament file is a government matter, stressing that representatives will not submit to media pressure or “fake excuses.” He pointed out the participation of Representatives George Adwan and Ziad Hawat in the previous sessions and expressed their desire to continue participating.
For his part, Representative Bilal Abdullah thanked Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri for adopting the proposal and giving it the necessary push through the joint committees, supporting Bou Saab’s proposals. Abdullah stressed that the primary goal is to preserve the dignity of the Lebanese citizen and not deprive him of health care in light of the ongoing crises since 2019, expressing his confidence in Bou Saab’s ability to turn corners and reach acceptable solutions. He concluded by emphasizing openness to all financing options and mechanisms, rejecting the continued class disparity in obtaining health coverage among segments of Lebanese society.
