Claire Dawson
Libya has been facing a healthcare crisis since the Libyan Revolution in 2011, which has been exacerbated by the First Libyan Civil War and the recent catastrophic flooding caused by Storm Daniel in 2023. The country combines state-run and private hospitals, with major hospitals located in Tripoli and Benghazi. According to the Libyan Ministry of Health, there are 96 hospitals, 25 specialized departments, 1355 main medical centers, 37 clinics, and 17 quarantine departments in the state. However, the ongoing conflict and political instability have resulted in a shortage of medical supplies, medications, and qualified personnel, impacting the availability of healthcare services in the country.
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What You'll Learn
- Libya has 96 hospitals, 25 specialised units, and 1355 basic health centres
- The Libyan health system has been in crisis since the Libyan Revolution in 2011
- Storm Daniel in 2023 caused catastrophic flooding, damaging 84% of hospitals in Derna
- Benghazi Medical Center is the primary hospital for healthcare in Benghazi
- The country combines state-run facilities with small private hospitals
Libya has 96 hospitals, 25 specialised units, and 1355 basic health centres
The Libyan health system has faced significant challenges since the Libyan Revolution and First Libyan Civil War in 2011. The conflict led to a crisis in the health system, with issues such as a lack of health information systems, severe medical supply shortages, and a loss of health staff. Many hospitals in Benghazi were forced to close due to security concerns, and the Benghazi Medical Center became the primary hospital for the city.
The International Medical Corps has been providing support to Libya by deploying mobile medical units (MMUs) across all regions to deliver emergency and essential healthcare services. They have also provided health services in Derna following catastrophic flooding in September 2023 caused by Storm Daniel.
Libya's healthcare system combines state-run facilities and small private hospitals. The country has made improvements in areas such as childhood immunisation, clean water supply, and sanitation. However, the ongoing conflict and political instability continue to impact the availability and quality of healthcare services in Libya.
Overall, while Libya has a significant number of hospitals and health centres, the country's healthcare system faces challenges due to the impact of civil war and political instability, resulting in a complex situation that affects the accessibility and quality of healthcare for its citizens.
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The Libyan health system has been in crisis since the Libyan Revolution in 2011
Libya has 96 hospitals, 25 specialized units, 1355 basic health centres, and 37 polyclinics. The country's major hospitals are in Tripoli and Benghazi.
Prior to the Libyan Revolution, health training, rehabilitation, education, housing, family issues, disability, and old-age benefits were regulated by "Decision No. 111" of the General People's Committee. The healthcare system combines state-run facilities and small private hospitals. Despite the challenges, Libya's health status is above average compared to other states in the Middle East. Childhood immunization is nearly universal, and there have been improvements in clean water supply and sanitation.
However, the Libyan health system faces serious challenges. There is a severe shortage of medical supplies, medications, and vaccinations due to a lack of security and interrupted supply deliveries. Many hospitals in Benghazi were forced to close due to security concerns, and Al Zahra Kidney Hospital near Tripoli was severely damaged and looted during clashes in 2015. The Benghazi Medical Center became the primary hospital for the city of Benghazi. The health information system is insufficient, and there is a loss of health staff, with many health workers being foreigners who have left the country.
To address these issues, the Libyan Ministry of Health collaborated with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international experts to sponsor the National Health Systems Conference in Tripoli in August 2012. The conference aimed to study how health systems function internationally and facilitate a consultative process to identify problems and propose solutions. The scientific program adopted the WHO healthcare system framework, focusing on areas such as health governance, healthcare finance, health service delivery, and human resources for health.
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Storm Daniel in 2023 caused catastrophic flooding, damaging 84% of hospitals in Derna
Libya has been facing a healthcare crisis since the Libyan Revolution in 2011. The country's healthcare system combines state-run facilities with small private hospitals, with major hospitals located in Tripoli and Benghazi.
In September 2023, Storm Daniel caused catastrophic flooding in Derna, Libya, damaging 84% of hospitals and rendering them non-functional or only partially functional. The storm made landfall on September 10, bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall to northeastern Libya. The country's National Center of Meteorology reported rainfall totals of 414.1 millimeters (more than 16 inches) of rain over 24 hours in Bayda, located roughly 5 miles from the coast in the Akhḍar Mountains.
The storm intensified into a Mediterranean cyclone, drawing energy from the abnormally warm waters off the Libyan coast. This process was intensified by human-caused climate change. The cyclone resulted in the collapse of two dams upstream of Derna, releasing 30 million cubic meters of water that swept through the city. The floodwaters reached as high as 10 feet and washed away entire buildings, streets, vehicles, and people.
The flooding caused by Storm Daniel had a devastating impact on the already fragile healthcare system in Derna. With 84% of hospitals damaged or destroyed, the remaining hospitals were overwhelmed with casualties. The Libyan Red Crescent reported a death toll of at least 150 people, while local authorities estimated that up to 2,000 people may have died. The Libyan Ambulance and Emergency Service announced the evacuation of Derna, and the city was closed except for search-and-rescue teams. The flooding also led to an increase in waterborne diseases, with at least 150 cases of diarrhea reported in Derna due to contaminated water.
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Benghazi Medical Center is the primary hospital for healthcare in Benghazi
Libya has been facing a healthcare crisis since the Libyan Revolution in 2011. The country's major hospitals are in Tripoli and Benghazi, the largest city in the eastern region of Libya. The Benghazi Medical Center (BMC) is the primary hospital for healthcare in Benghazi.
The Libyan health system has been adversely affected by the First Libyan Civil War in 2011 and the ongoing conflict. Many hospitals in Benghazi were forced to close due to security concerns. However, the Benghazi Medical Center remained operational and became the main provider of healthcare in the city.
The Benghazi Medical Center is a vital facility for cancer treatment and research in Eastern Libya. It is the only oncology center in the region and has contributed to studies on cancer incidence and patterns. The center has faced challenges due to the limited healthcare infrastructure in the country. There is a shortage of medical supplies, medications, and vaccinations, impacting the treatment of chronic diseases.
The Benghazi Medical Center, like other hospitals in Libya, has also had to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and the displacement of thousands of people due to the conflict. The center was sanitized following the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, and it continues to play a crucial role in providing healthcare to the people of Benghazi.
Benghazi Medical Center's role as the primary hospital in Benghazi highlights the importance of improving the Libyan healthcare system. The country faces challenges in data collection, medical supply management, and addressing the needs of displaced persons. International organizations, such as the International Medical Corps, have provided support by deploying mobile medical units and delivering essential healthcare services across the country.
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The country combines state-run facilities with small private hospitals
Libya has been facing a healthcare crisis since the Libyan Revolution and Civil War in 2011. The health system has been adversely affected by several factors, including a lack of health information systems, severe medical supply shortages, and the loss of health staff. The country combines state-run facilities with small private hospitals, and the availability of qualified medical care is limited to selected clinics in major cities like Tripoli and Benghazi.
The Libyan healthcare system has been impacted by internal displacement, with approximately 435,000 IDPs scattered across 35 towns and cities. This has placed significant pressure on hosting cities and towns, exacerbating shortages of food, fuel, water, medical supplies, and electricity. The situation has been further aggravated by the recent catastrophic flooding caused by Storm Daniel in September 2023, which affected the northeastern region of the country.
Prior to the storm, Derna, a city in eastern Libya, had ten fully or partially functional health facilities, including one hospital, eight polyclinics (four private), and one health center. However, the flooding resulted in the collapse of two poorly maintained dams, leading to the death and displacement of thousands. The aftermath of the storm left 84% of hospitals and 88% of primary health centers in the affected areas nonfunctional or only partially functional.
The International Medical Corps has been actively providing support by deploying mobile medical units (MMUs) across all regions of Libya. These MMUs consist of diverse medical specialists and professionals who provide emergency and essential healthcare services to both Libyan and non-Libyan populations. They also include community health workers (CHWs) who play a vital role in raising health awareness, promoting psychosocial well-being, and preventing diseases among migrant and refugee communities.
Despite these efforts, the Libyan healthcare system continues to face challenges. The country's medical schools struggle with a large drop-off among graduated nurses, and the overall system suffers from a lack of real data on population health indicators. The constant conflicts and political instability within the country have significantly impacted the availability and quality of healthcare services.
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Frequently asked questions
According to the Libyan Ministry of Health, there are 96 hospitals in the country. However, this number might have changed due to the ongoing conflict in the country.
No, free healthcare was stopped at the start of the civil war in 2011.
The major hospitals in Libya are located in its big cities, Tripoli and Benghazi.
Libya is currently facing a healthcare crisis due to the ongoing conflict and political instability in the country. There is a severe shortage of medications, medical supplies, and vaccinations.
Storm Daniel caused catastrophic flooding in the city of Derna, Libya, in September 2023. Almost two months after the floods, it was reported that more than two-thirds of hospitals in Derna and other affected areas were either partially functional or nonfunctional.
