Result achieved
Outcome summary
The Government of Lebanon, in consultation with the social partners revised the existing health insurance programme for private sector workers early in 2017 in order to provide health insurance coverage to retired private sector workers.
Outcome achieved
The Government of Lebanon, in consultation with the social partners revised the existing health insurance programme for private sector workers early in 2017 in order to provide health insurance coverage to retired private sector workers.
2. The Government and the social partners agreed early in 2017 on the progressive introduction of universal health care (UHC) in Lebanon, considering gender equality and non-discrimination, especially for refugees.
ILO's contribution to the outcome
The ILO, with RBSA funding [LBN/16/01/RBS], provided support to the Government and social partners, which included:
(a) a technical feasibility report on universal health care coverage, and the extension of health care to retired private sector workers;
(b) a workshop for tripartite constituents on social protection reform, including the extension of health care coverage to retired private sector workers; and
(c) extensive awareness raising through meetings with tripartite constituents.
2. The ILO provided comprehensive assistance to the progressive introduction of UHC in Lebanon to tripartite constituents, in close collaboration with the UNHCR, building strongly on assistance provided in the previous biennium. In this regard, the ILO contributed by:
(a) updating the ILO health study carried out in the previous biennium, and presented it to the tripartite constituents and Lebanese experts working in the field of UHC (July 2016); and
(b) preparing a road map for the progressive implementation of UHC and organizing extensive meetings with tripartite constituents, academics and experts to discuss the results of the study and the road map.
Gender equality & non-discrimination
Gender equality and non-discrimination were integrated as subjects of focus in all discussions and studies. As women are disproportionally over-represented among workers in the informal economy, the progressive introduction of universal health care coverage will be a major contribution towards enhanced gender equality and non-discrimination with respect to women’s access to health protection in Lebanon. The recommendations provided in the ILO health study are in line with the guidance provided by the ILO’s Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202), including one of its principles aimed at gender equality and non-discrimination.