Hotline for Health Services for Displaced Lebanese 1787
Hotline for the Patient Admission to Hospitals 01/832700
COVID-19 Vaccine Registration Form covax.moph.gov.lb
MoPH Hotline 1214
Are you a new member? Sign up now
 
Let us help you
Read about the latest topics.

National Tuberculosis Program

 
About the National Tuberculosis Program-Lebanon
NTP Centers and Services
 

The National Tuberculosis Program (NTP), under the Ministry of Public Health of Lebanon, operates through the Tuberculosis (TB) central unit at Karantina and 9 TB control centers across the country:


1 center located in Beirut (Karantina), 1 in Mount Lebanon (Barouk), 2 in Bekaa (Zahleh and Hermel), 2 in the North (Tripoli and Halba), and 3 in the South (Nabatieh, Saida and Tyre).

NTP is committed to providing equitable, quality services for the diagnosis and treatment of TB to all notified cases residing in Lebanon, regardless of the geographical region, economic status and country of origin.

The following services are provided FREE of charge at the TB centers falling under the NTP:
  • TB diagnostics and laboratory services (Chest Radiography, Direct Smear Microscopy, Gene Xpert testing, Culture and Drug Sensibility testing for first and second line drugs)
  • TB cases management and treatment (first and second line treatment regimens provided for drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB cases)
  • Treatment follow-up and Support through Directly Observed Treatment (DOT) and Video Observed Treatment (VOT)
  • TB Contacts investigations and Screening
  • TB Prevention through the provision of preventive treatment for Latent TB cases in high risk groups when recommended (TB-HIV patients, TB Contacts, Immunocompromised patients, Migrants from high TB burden countries)
Furthermore, MOPH contracted the Sanatorium at Azounieh-Mount Lebanon for TB cases that require hospitalization and isolation.

MOPH also nominated and contracted Laboratoire Rdolphe Merieux (LRM) as the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for TB in Lebanon as of June 2018. The following diagnostic tests are performed by the NRL as per the national TB guidelines:
  • Culture
  • Phenotypic and Genotypic Drug Susceptibility Testing for first and second line drugs
  • Gene Xpert for extra-pulmonary specimens 
 
NTP-Lebanon Organigram
 
 
 
TB Surveillance
TB Epidemiology in Lebanon

Lebanon is a low TB burden country with an estimated total TB incidence of 13 per 100000 populations, an estimated HIV-negative TB mortality of 1.4 per 100000 populations and a treatment coverage of 76% (WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2021).
The trend of TB notification which increased from 2012 onwards due to the influx of Syrian refugees and to the migrant workforce present in the country drastically dropped over the past 2 years and this is mainly attributed to the decline in notification among migrants (Figure 1). Figure 2 shows that the percentage of foreign born TB cases which gradually increased between 2006 and 2020 dropped to 50% in 2021. 

Figure 1): Trends in notified TB cases by Population Subgroups, 2007-2021


Figure 2): Trends in notified TB cases-Nationals vs. Non-nationals, 2006-2021

 
In 2021, 474 TB cases, including 470 DS-TB and 4 DR-TB were notified, diagnosed and enrolled under TB treatment. The total notification dropped by 38% and 28% compared to 2019 and 2020 respectively. Furthermore, the distribution by population subgroup shows a decline in notification among the different groups, particularly in migrants with a huge drop of 62% compared to 2019 and 51% compared to 2020.

A. Drug-Susceptible TB Cases

Figure 3: Distribution of TB Cases by Type of Disease

 
Figure 4: Distribution of EPTB Cases by Site of Disease


Figure 5: Distribution of TB Cases by Gender and Age Category


Figure 6: Distribution of TB Cases by Nationality


Figure 7: Distribution of TB Cases by Governorate


Figure 8.a: Distribution of TB cases by Nationality-Beirut


Figure 8.b: Distribution of TB cases by Nationality at District Level-Mount Lebanon


Figure 8.c: Distribution of TB cases by Nationality at District Level-North Lebanon


Figure 8.d: Distribution of TB cases by Nationality at District Level-South Lebanon


Figure 8.e: Distribution of TB cases by Nationality at District Level-Bekaa


B. Drug Resistant-TB Cases-2020

In total 4 cases were reported in 2021 including 2 RR-TB, 1 pre-XDR-TB and 1 XDR-TB case. 3 had PTB and 1 had EPTB; all were non-nationals.
Overall, there were 0.6% DR-TB among new notified TB cases and 17% among previously treated TB cases
 

 
For the Public
What is Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affects the lungs and is called Pulmonary TB. It can also affect other organs in the body (such as the bones, lymph nodes, brain…) and is known as Extra-pulmonary TB.

How does it spread?

TB is spread from person to person through the air; a patient with active pulmonary TB releases the germs into the air through coughing, sneezing or spitting; a person needs to inhale only a few of these ­germs to become infected (Latent TB infection).

A patient with Latent TB means he has been infected by TB bacteria but has not (yet) developed active TB disease and cannot transmit it.

People infected with TB bacteria have a 5 to 15% lifetime risk of falling ill with active TB. However, persons with compromised immune systems, such as people living with HIV, malnutrition or diabetes, or people who use tobacco, have a higher risk of falling ill.

Rarely, a person could get infected with TB after the consumption of unpasteurized milk from infected cows.
 
What are the common signs and symptoms of TB

TB bacteria most commonly affects the lungs, and can cause the following symptoms:
  • Cough that lasts 2 weeks or longer
  • Chest pain
  • Fatigue
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Fever
  • Night Sweats 

How is it treated?

Active, drug-susceptible TB disease is treated with a standard 6 months course of 4 antimicrobial drugs that are provided with information and support to the patient. TB disease can be cured when medicines are taken properly. You should inform your doctor of any adverse event that might occur throughout the treatment course.

Drug resistance emerges when anti-TB medicines are used inappropriately (such as when a patient stops treatment prematurely) and can lead to the development of a dangerous, life threatening form of TB disease.
 
DOT-VOT
Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) and Video Observed Treatment (VOT) improve treatment adherence by requiring a health worker or volunteer to observe patients taking each dose of the medicine on a daily basis.

TB is preventable and curable. Keep in mind that compliance to treatment is critical for cure and always follow the instructions of your healthcare provider.
 
How to prevent the spread of TB?

If you have tuberculosis, you should follow a number of preventive measures that help in reducing the transmission and spread of the disease especially to household members and close people.
  • Do not spit on the ground
  • Do not cough or sneeze in front of others without covering your mouth or nose
  • Maintain good ventilation of the house
  • Allow natural sunlight into the house
 
For Professionals
Lebanon National Strategic Plan to End Tuberculosis, 2023-2030

National TB Guidelines (Links)
TB Algorithms (Links)
Annual TB Reports (Links)

TB Notification Form - إستمارة إبلاغ عن حالة سل
 
IEC Materials
Sputum collection
Coughing Etiquette
TB Symptoms-1
TB Symptoms-2
TB Symptoms-3
General  facts about TB-Ar

كيفية جمع عينة البلغم
آداب السعال
عوارض السل-1
عوارض السل-2
عوارض السل-3


















 
    1
ATC Name B/G Ingredients Dosage Form Price
D10AF05 NADIXA G Nadifloxacin - 1% 1% Cream 850,652 L.L
S01AE02 NAFLOX G Norfloxacin - 3mg/ml 3mg/ml Drops 370,901 L.L
C04AX21 NAFTILUX B Naftidrofuryl oxalate acid - 200mg 200mg Capsule 432,717 L.L
C04AX21 NAFTIPRAX B Naftidrofuryl hydrogen oxalate - 200mg 200mg Tablet, film coated 614,328 L.L
G03AA12 NAJAT G Drospirenone - 3mg, Ethinylestradiol - 0.03mg Tablet, coated 417,935 L.L
N02AF02 NALBUPHINE RENAUDIN 1% G Nalbuphine HCl - 20mg/2ml 20mg/2ml Injectable solution 1,181,238 L.L
C10AB05 NANOFIB G Fenofibrate - 145mg 145mg Tablet, film coated 1,371,615 L.L
S01GA51 NAPHCON A B Naphazoline HCl - 0.025%, Pheniramine maleate - 0.3% Drops solution 369,557 L.L
M01AE02 NAPROXENE SODIQUE ARROW G Naproxen (sodium) - 550mg 550mg Tablet, film coated, scored 255,330 L.L
R01AB06 NARIX G Xylometazoline HCl - 90mcg/actuation, Carbocisteine - 900mcg/actuation Spray 518,339 L.L
R01AD11 NASACORT AQ B Triamcinolone acetonide - 55mcg/dose 55mcg/dose Spray, suspension 1,003,850 L.L
R01AD11 NASACORT AQ B Triamcinolone acetonide - 55mcg/dose 55mcg/dose Spray, suspension 1,003,850 L.L
R01AD09 NASONEX B Mometasone furoate (monohydrate) - 50mcg/dose 0.05% Spray, suspension 529,474 L.L
A04AA01 NAUSETRON G Ondansetron (HCl dihydrate) - 8mg 8mg Tablet, scored 1,023,880 L.L
A04AA01 NAUSETRON G Ondansetron - 4mg/5ml 4mg/5ml Solution 958,608 L.L
A04AA01 NAUSETRON G Ondansetron - 4mg/5ml 4mg/5ml Solution 802,466 L.L
A03FA03 NAUZEX G Domperidone - 10mg 10mg Tablet 258,530 L.L
L01CA04 NAVELBINE B Vinorelbine (ditartrate) - 20mg 20mg Capsule, soft gelatin 4,048,997 L.L
L01CA04 NAVELBINE B Vinorelbine (ditartrate) - 30mg 30mg Capsule, soft gelatin 6,072,824 L.L
D10AF05 NAXIDERM G Nadifloxacin - 1% 1% Gel 826,783 L.L
N06AB03 NEANXETIN G Fluoxetine (HCl) - 20mg 20mg Capsule 422,351 L.L
C07AB12 NEBILET B Nebivolol HCl - 5mg 5mg Tablet, scored 694,767 L.L
C07BB12 NEBILET PLUS B Nebivolol HCl - 5mg, Hydrochlorothiazide - 12.5mg Tablet, film coated 716,268 L.L
C07BB12 NEBILET PLUS B Nebivolol HCl - 5mg, Hydrochlorothiazide - 25mg Tablet, film coated 716,268 L.L
C07AB12 NEBIVOLOL BIOGARAN G Nebivolol HCl - 5mg 5mg Tablet, scored 529,474 L.L
J01DD02 NEGACEF G Ceftazidime (pentahydrate) - 1g 1g Injectable dry powder for solution 4,421,242 L.L
D06BA05 NEO SULFA G Sulfanilamide - 12g 12g Powder 151,022 L.L
R05FA01 NEO-CODION B Codeine Camphosulfonate - 25mg, Sulfogaiacol - 100mg, Grindelia soft extract - 20mg Tablet, coated 286,238 L.L
N02BG06 NEO-PAN G Nefopam HCl - 20mg/ml 20mg/ml Injectable solution 494,534 L.L
L03AA02 NEOGRASTIM 30 BioTech Filgrastim - 300mcg/ml 300mcg/ml Injectable solution 1,970,969 L.L
    1
Sitemap
© Copyrights reserved to Ministry of Public Health 2025