Authors:
Nadim El Jamal MD, Research Fellow, Division of Cardiology, American University of Beirut.
Taghrid Hajjali, President, Health and Environment Committee, Lebanese Order of Physicians
Hussain Isma’eel, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine; Elie Al-Chaer, Professor and Chairperson
Similar to other countries, Lebanon experienced the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic imposed on its healthcare system. Physicians, among other healthcare workers, felt the large toll of the pandemic. The growing number of physicians infected with the coronavirus has uncovered gaps in the policies and laws meant to protect and ensure physician safety. These include gaps in physician coverage for healthcare, disability, and death, in addition to particular vulnerabilities of trainee physicians, along with the absence of specific laws, strategies, and agencies to ensure the safety of the healthcare work environment. This paper highlights these gaps and proposes solutions to address them.