Lebanon - Health
Lebanon has relatively good health facilities, but many hospitals and other medical services are affected by fuel shortages and this is turn is affecting the quality of medical care available (e.g. lighting and air conditioning may be turned off and hospitals may refuse to take patients if they can’t treat them). Medical care can be expensive and many providers insist on significant cash in advance before admitting patients, including emergencies. Good health insurance is essential. Doctors are generally well qualified, nurses less-so, although many health care providers have left the country due to the economic crisis. French and English is widely spoken.
In an emergency dial 112 for an ambulance.
Vaccine-Preventable Diseases:
Similar to other countries, Hepatitis A and B vaccines are recommended.
Also make sure tetanus-diphtheria and measles vaccinations are up-to-date.
A typhoid vaccine is also recommended for travel to Lebanon.
Food and Water Concerns:
Although Beirut’s tap water is considered safe to drink, it’s probably best to drink bottled water as the Lebanese do.
As is the general rule, to be absolutely safe, drink water only from bottles with intact caps, do not take the ice in your drinks, and eat only cooked food and fruits that you can peel.
Shortages:
Medicines have become increasingly scarce due to the economic crisis. Make sure you take any supplies of medicine you need with you to Lebanon. If you are traveling with prescription medication make sure you have a certificate confirming that the medicine has been prescribed for a specific medical condition.
Last updated: July 2023
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Reported by Italian sailor Giorgio Clerici
of SY Laurora who spent last winter in Lebanon:
Entering (November 2022) it was $300 USD for Customs which issue you 3 months validly permit. This permit can be renewed once, paying again 300 USD .
ATCL marina Lebanon has Customs on-site, but the marina fee in ATCL are around 1000 USD per month for a 13 meter vessel.
Entering the ATCL you meet the Immigration which will charge 50 USD per crew. Yachts can move 4NM south to la Marina Joseph Khoury -Dbaye where the mooring price was 300 USD per month.
To move from one marina to another you have to pay 50 USD to Immigration to clear out from the ATCL and 50 USD to clear in at the next port/marina.
These fees are compulsory every time you leave and enter an harbour inside Lebanese waters.
To clear out of the country (which we did in February 2023) from a Marina, an agent is required who charged us 200 USD.
We were in Lebanon during the winter and the other ports of Lebanon outside the Beirut area were not reccomended in winter. Around Beirut there are some more little private marinas which have berth availability, but negotiations have to be done prior to arrival.
In the summer it would be possible to cruise to the ports of Batrun- Byblo – Sidone, very interesting places. For entering Tripoli or Tyro, a special permit has to be required through the agent . Nice anchorages around the coast, but the police do not permit overnight anchoring. During the daytime you can leave your marina without any check or fee – but you need to be back at your berth before dark.
It’s very important to have cash in USD with you as the local money is not accepted anymore and loses value every day (even more the 10% daily ).
Debit card and credit card don’t work in Lebanon, so it is very important to have your budget in cash. Fuel is cheap and easy to find, but payment only by USD cash. Euro is not available as is has to be converted in to dollars before tuse. The Euros is traded at a very bad exchange rate .
The Country is nice, SAFE and beautiful, even though they are facing a difficult economic crisis.