Background: Counterfeit medicine is a product that is deliberately and fraudulently mislabelled with respect to identity or source. The international concern is the risk counterfeits pose for public health. To date, there are no published studies on public and pharmacist perceptions towards counterfeit medicine in Lebanon. Therefore, the aim of the study was to explore participants’ experiences, views and beliefs regarding counterfeit medicine by employing the mixed methods methodology. Methods: The study used four focus groups. The two public focus groups were recruited using the convenience sampling method from two schools in Mount Lebanon. The two pharmacists’ focus groups were recruited by the snowball approach from different pharmacy settings. All participants were above 18 years old. Results: The public and pharmacist focus groups had a total of 24 and 13 participants respectively. Using thematic analysis, themes and subthemes emerged from the discussions, and the common themes between the public and pharmacists were; awareness, trust, corruption and overcoming counterfeit medicine. Conclusions: The findings showed the perceived risk counterfeit medicine pose to individuals and public health. According to focus group participants, the situation is serious and requires more attention from the Ministry of Public Health and Order of Pharmacists. Therefore, the need is to establish strict control on medicine; implement and enforce the law; reactivate the central laboratory; create a counterfeit medicine reporting system, and develop continuous educational programs.

Objectives Counterfeit/falsified medicines (CFM) have serious public health consequences in both developed and less developed countries. The study aimed to assess public awareness and views towards CFM in Lebanon. Methods The study used convenience sampling and was based on cross‐sectional surveys of the public that took place in different regions in Lebanon, using two questionnaires (Q1 and Q2). Key findings A total of 849 participated in the study (464 Q1 and 385 Q2). The majority (93.4%) of respondents reported being aware of the term CFM, and television was the source of awareness for 84.4% of respondents. Additionally, 28.9% of respondents did not know how to compare CFM to their original, 19.6% did not answer the question, and only 3.7% reported that the original medicine would have the hologram on the package. Respondents reported the best way to avoid buying CFM would be via a trustworthy pharmacist (83.4%). The majority (83.1%) disagreed that CFM were as good as the originals, and 46% agreed that the original medicines were highly priced, and CFM were of better price value. Moreover, respondents reported agreeing that pharmacists who dispensed CFM were unprofessional (81.3%) and unethical (83.1%). Conclusions The awareness, experiences and views of respondents showed the perceived risk that CFM have on public health and the need to develop continuous awareness and educational campaigns about the safety and efficacy of medicines. Additionally, this study highlighted the need for the government and regulatory authorities to apply and enforce the law against counterfeiters.

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The study aims to examine cultural differences and discrimination as difficulties encountered by DS when using the Lebanese healthcare system, and to evaluate the equity of DS access to health services in Lebanon. This is a qualitative study using in-depth semi-structured interviews with DS and Lebanese healthcare professionals. The participants were selected by visiting two hospitals, one public Primary Healthcare Center, and three PHCs managed by Non-Governmental Organizations. The recruitment of participants was based on reasoned and targeted sampling. Thematic analysis was performed to identify common themes in participants’ experiences of DS in accessing Lebanese healthcare. Twenty interviews took place with directors of health facilities (n = 5), health professionals (n = 9), and DS (n = 6) in six different Lebanese healthcare institutions. The results showed barriers of access to care related to transportation and financial issues. Healthcare services provided to the DS appear to be of poor quality due to inequitable access to the health system, attributable to the discriminatory behavior of healthcare providers. Among the several factors contributing to the presence of discrimination in the Lebanese healthcare system, the persisting fragility of the healthcare system—facing a humanitarian crisis—emerged as the major driver of such unequal treatment. The number of DS in Lebanon is roughly equal to a quarter of its citizens; there is an urging need to restore the Lebanese health system to ensure the equitable provision of health services for DS and appropriate working conditions for health professionals.

Introduction : En termes de santé publique, les déterminants du recours aux soins buccodentaires sont rarement documentés. Or, leur maitrise est essentielle pour l’établissement d’une prévention efficace. Objectifs : L’objectif principal de notre étude est d’étudier les perceptions, les attitudes, les représentations sociales et les facteurs déterminant le comportement de recours aux soins buccodentaires de la population libanaise au sein de deux gouvernorats, Beyrouth et le Mont-Liban. La méthode suit une approche qualitative descriptive. Des entretiens exploratoires semi-dirigés ont été menés auprès de 20 bénéficiaires et sept dentistes. Les données ont été analysées thématiquement en plusieurs étapes selon le modèle de Kreuter et Green. Résultats : Les résultats de notre étude ont montré que plusieurs facteurs entravent le recours aux soins buccodentaires. Le manque de connaissances sur la relation entre santé dentaire et santé générale, les perceptions négatives des patients envers la prévention et la dentisterie ainsi que les aspects financiers restent les facteurs principaux qui entravent le recours aux soins dentaires. D’autre part, l’amélioration de l’éducation sanitaire, le changement de perceptions du dentiste ainsi que la couverture des frais ou le remboursement seraient des facteurs qui favoriseraient le recours. Conclusion : Le non-recours aux soins dentaires demeure un problème de santé publique majeur dans un pays en cours de développement comme le Liban. Si l’impact sur la santé dentaire est considérable, il l’est également sur l’état de santé générale de la population avec toutes ses conséquences sur un système de santé national très fragilisé.