Surgery in Lebanon.

I n the Middle East, Lebanon has traditionally been known for high standards of medical education and a high quality of medical care. Its health care system is characterized by an abundance of medical schools, hospitals, equipment, and manpower; multiple systems of medical education; prevalence of the private sector; and paradoxical proficiency of the system in the face of lack of regulation. The Lebanese value individualism and are firmly attached to their liberal system, which contributes to their creativity and inventiveness and, on the other hand, leads to a paucity of government policies and control, lack of statistics, excessive competition, and no clear effort at organization.