Millions of people travel annually to receive medical services, contributing to a global multi-billion-dollar industry that is reshaping healthcare markets and the landscape of medical tourism.
In this context, Lebanon has a long-standing reputation for providing high-quality medical services, earning it the title of the “Hospital of the Middle East” for many years. However, recent economic challenges, declining digital infrastructure, and limited investment in healthcare have reduced the capacity of the private health sector to maintain its leading position in medical tourism.
To understand the current reality, a comprehensive assessment was conducted on the websites of private hospitals in Lebanon to measure their readiness to attract international patients and support the medical tourism sector. The study reviewed all private hospital websites in Lebanon, totaling 112 according to Ministry of Health data. However, the results revealed a structural problem in the digital sector, as 44 websites were non-functional and excluded from evaluation, narrowing the analysis to 68 active websites only.
The assessment tool covered three core dimensions: accessibility, institutional credentials, and communication. Together, these dimensions capture key patient considerations, including ease of navigation, information quality, service transparency, and available communication channels. Each dimension was weighted using mandatory and optional criteria, enhancing the precision and depth of the results.
