The Union of Nurses in Lebanon staged a sit-in protest in their professional uniforms today, in front of the headquarters of the Private Hospitals Union in Beirut. The gathering saw a substantial turnout of healthcare professionals, unified in their demand for a salary correction for nurses.
Protesters held banners calling for a salary adjustment, firmly stating that there would be no backing down from this justified demand.
Speaking to Sputnik, the Head of the Nurses Union, Rima Sassine Qazan, revealed that, “Since 2019 up to this day, we have lost 3,300 experienced and competent nurses due to migration.” Qazan also pointed out that the union had previously requested a gradual increase in salaries that considers the hospitals’ capabilities. The adjustment was to be based on the 2019 salary and a part of it was to be given in US dollars, in three stages up to the end of 2025.
Qazan stated that the Health Minister supported them, and the Head of the Private Hospitals Union, Sleiman Haroun, made suggestions. She mentioned that they insisted on adjusting the nursing sector salaries based on 2019 salaries, with a part of the salary given in US dollars. However, she expressed her surprise when, a week ago, hospitals were requested not to commit to adjusting the salaries of the nursing sector, after some directors showed willingness to respond to their demands.
Commenting on the sit-in, Qazan said, “Today’s sit-in and this stance is to reject the position of the Private Hospitals Union and to tell them that nurses are indispensable as they form the foundation of the hospitals and the health sector.” She believes that the Union is driving the nursing sector towards migration.
On the impact of nurse migration, Qazan noted, “Due to the increased migration, the quality of nursing care has declined, errors have increased, and we now have a shortage of nursing staff. According to international standards, each nurse should care for 6 patients. Today, due to the shortage, a nurse has to care for more than 20 patients. This situation has repercussions.
The nurse gets physically and psychologically exhausted, and the patient no longer receives the necessary care. That’s why we raised our voice today, to put things back on track and to tell the Union and all hospital directors that they must help us to save the nursing sector.”
