Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42788343›Full record

ArticleInternational journal for quality in health care : journal of the International Society for Quality in Health Care2026

Mitigating climate-related health risks in Lebanon: implementation of national standards for climate-ready hospitals.

Elie Matta, Emile Whaibeh, Lea Kai, Jowy Abi Hanna, Alicia Abi Nader, Fadi Hindi, Riham Sanjakdar, Habib Abdo, Rouba El Khatib, Wael Al-Delaimy and 7 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal for quality in health care : journal of the International Society for Quality in Health Care, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Elie MattaHealth and Environment Response Agency (HERA), Beirut, Lebanon.
Emile WhaibehHealth and Environment Response Agency (HERA), Beirut, Lebanon.
Lea KaiClimate Change Office, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ministry of Environment, Beirut Lebanon.
Jowy Abi HannaHealth and Environment Response Agency (HERA), Beirut, Lebanon.
Alicia Abi NaderHealth and Environment Response Agency (HERA), Beirut, Lebanon.
Fadi HindiObstetrics and Reproduction Hôtel-Dieu de France University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon.
Riham SanjakdarObstetrics and Reproduction Hôtel-Dieu de France University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon.
Habib AbdoCentral Military Laboratories, Lebanese Army, Beirut, Lebanon.
Rouba El KhatibAgence Française de Développement (AFD), Beirut, Lebanon.
Wael Al-DelaimySchool of Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, United States.
Fayez AbdullaCivil Engineering Department, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Mazen MalkawiMinistry of Health and Prevention, United Arab Emirates.
Farah JradiInternational Organization for Migration (IOM), Beirut, Lebanon.
Rana AmerInternational Organization for Migration (IOM), Beirut, Lebanon.
Joseph ZgheibInternational Organization for Migration (IOM), Beirut, Lebanon.
Myriam MradHealth and Environment Response Agency (HERA), Beirut, Lebanon.
Georges Abi TayehHealth and Environment Response Agency (HERA), Beirut, Lebanon.

Funding

Harnessing Synergies Between Climate Change Adaptation and Risk Reduction in Migrant-Inclusive Health System ResponsesMigration Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MMPTF)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundClimate change increasingly disrupts healthcare systems worldwide by simultaneously increasing service demand and undermining infrastructure reliability. Hospitals face escalating risks from extreme weather, energy insecurity, and water scarcity, while contributing nearly 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. These challenges are particularly acute in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, where fragile health systems and resource constraints heighten vulnerability. Lebanon's health sector exemplifies this intersection of climate risk and systemic fragility. This study aimed to develop nationally tailored standards for climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable healthcare facilities in Lebanon, translating international climate-health frameworks into actionable, context-specific guidance aligned with national legal and operational realities.

methodsA multiphase methodology was applied, including a scoping review of international standards and guidance (WHO, ISO 14001, ISO 9001, ISO 26000), structured consultations with key national and international stakeholders, and synthesis of draft standards into thematic areas. Clauses were aligned with existing Lebanese environmental and health legislation to ensure compliance and to prioritize urgent mandatory actions over longer-term strategic actions.

resultsThe resulting standards comprise 10 thematic areas covering governance, environmental management, climate emergency preparedness, community engagement, sustainable procurement, and performance monitoring. Legal screening enabled phased implementation, distinguishing urgent compliance-driven actions from longer-term strategic enhancements. Implementation assessment demonstrated that the standards could guide gap identification, cost estimation, and prioritization of climate-resilience investments at facility level.

conclusionClimate-resilient healthcare standards for Lebanon provide a practical framework for strengthening service continuity during climate shocks while reducing the sector's carbon footprint. Institutionalization and MoPH-led enforcement will be essential for long-term uptake.

Indexed as

Climate ChangeHospitalsHumansLebanonclimate changeclimate-resilient health systemsenvironmental sustainabilityhealthcare standardsLebanonMENA region

Identifiers

PMID42788343
PMCPMC13648154

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.