The Stream

Reports of infant deaths after being ‘refused’ admission to Lebanon hospital trigger outrage

Hospital disputes allegation sick infant was turned away for father’s inability to pay.

6 month old Inaam Eid died under disputed circumstances at the Rahhal hospital in northern Lebanon on Tuesday, triggering uproar across Lebanese social media. According to her father, Inaam died after being denied hospital admission because he could not afford the requested $100 fee. The hospital denied the allegation, saying the girl was admitted, but passed away while she was being treated.

A few days earlier, a 4 month old infant died after being denied admission to two hospitals, including the one mentioned above, for lack of empty beds. The Rahhal hospital acknowledged the incident, but says the father disregarded hospital staff’s advice to take the baby to an emergency room.

Using the hashtag #المستشفيات_بلبنان (hospitals in Lebanon), netizens ridiculed and vented their frustration at the state of hospitals in the country.