The primary healthcare network in Lebanon: a national facility assessment

The assessment of material and human resources, as well as services at healthcare facilities can further our understanding of their capacity to adapt to a people-centred framework.

To assess health infrastructure, drugs, equipment and human resources in primary healthcare centres (PHCCs) within the Lebanese National Primacy Healthcare Network.

The study surveyed all 212 primary healthcare centres in the network to assess services, as well as material and human resource availability. The survey was developed by the Ministry of Public Health and administered at each PHCC through face-to-face interviews with the facilities' directors. Data collection took place between December 2017 and January 2018. Descriptive statistics and χ² tests were used to analyse the collected data.

The majority of PHCCs in the network delivered all services required by the national standards (78%), and had all basic equipment necessary for the delivery of care (89%), in addition to viable means of communication (85%). However, there was a significant shortage of family medicine physicians and nurses. Bivariate analysis highlighted regional disparities between urban and rural areas.

This study can further our understanding of the capacity and ability of healthcare facilities to adapt to a people-centred framework. It provides baseline data that will inform Lebanon in its efforts to strengthen primary health care, and assist donors and local and international nongovernmental organizations in planning interventions and programmes, and better allocation of financial support.