Beirut, Lebanon | November 4, 2026
Banque du Liban (Lebanon’s Central Bank) has informed its employees that medical approvals and healthcare coverage at Al-Rassoul Al-Aazam Hospital and the Lebanese Medical Center (LMC) have been suspended until further notice.
What does the decision entail?
• Automatic rejection of all new medical authorization requests involving the two hospitals.
• Coordination with physicians to transfer scheduled hospital admissions, surgeries, or treatments to other hospitals within the bank’s approved healthcare network.
• No reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses — employees who choose to continue treatment at either hospital will have to bear the full cost.
The Central Bank apologized for
“any inconvenience”
and offered assistance in finding alternatives. However, it provided no explanation for the decision or indication of when the suspension might end.
The Political and Sectarian Dimensions
The selection of these two hospitals raises serious concerns that the decision reflects compliance with American sanctions pressure rather than a routine administrative measure.
Both institutions serve a predominantly Shiite patient population and are currently providing medical treatment at affordable rates to residents of southern Lebanon, including civilians affected by Israeli attacks.
This context raises concerns that American sanctions pressure is being translated into restrictions on healthcare access, disproportionately affecting the Shiite community and communities already suffering from the consequences of Israeli military operations.
Although Banque du Liban has not publicly confirmed the reasons behind its decision, its consequences are clear: patients and medical institutions serving vulnerable communities are being placed under additional financial pressure.