The Lebanese health sector has shown remarkable resilience and progress, despite an adverse geopolitical context. To a large extent this has been made possible by the performance of MoPH in its capacity of steward of the health sector

A review of achievements and the critical role of MoPH governance shows that the MoPH has gained considerable authority and respect in the sector: in terms of policy making, of sector regulation, and of brokerage between multiple stakeholders. It has developed an original and homegrown collaborative governance style, that mobilises two essential assets. First, strategic intelligence: a combination of scientific evidence, operational information, and an understanding of the geography of stakeholder interests. Second, social consensus: through systematic, open and transparent collaboration with stakeholder networks and sensitivity to the expectations of the public. MoPH’s governance track record has been, given circumstances, remarkable.

Nevertheless, the system remains vulnerable to Lebanon’s human and political geography, in a context of clientelism and politicisation. Furthermore, whereas MoPH has thus far managed to avoid direct confrontation with vested commercial interests, these remain present, with important stakes. Finally,
the regional geopolitical context remains volatile: the health sector has thus far shown remarkable resilience, but likely future shocks need to be anticipated.

In this context MoPH’s collaborative governance must be consolidated and expanded, in two dimensions: a ‘technical’ one of institutionalising the reliance on evidence, information and alliance-building that has characterised MoPH work over the last two decades; and a ‘political’ one of building the social
consensus and support for the collaborative efforts to rationalise the health sector.

Whilst MoPH capacities have grown considerably, not in the least through its collaboration with WHO and academia, current ad hoc arrangements need to morph into institutionalised capacity for producing strategic intelligence and preparation of collaborative decision and implementation processes, whilst
bolstering the credibility and legitimacy of the MoPH leadership.

This can be done by equipping MoPH, in collaboration with WHO, with a Policy Support Observatory.

This can provide structured analytical and decision support capacity, in line with MoPH needs and taking full advantage of the various data sources that are being developed by MoPH and of its relations of collaboration with academia. Moreover, it can harness MoPH’s various collaborative networks which are instruments for implementation of shared policy objectives, and also, through the linkages with a wide range of constituencies, a powerful source of support and social consensus. Increased visibility of the technical work and achievements of the networks would not only enhance their stabilising influence, but also serve as a platform to market the innovations they represent for the Lebanese context (electronic medical record, continuity of care, person-centredness, active case-management,registration, capitation,…) and facilitate adoption of benchmark practices by contagion and diffusion
The PSO is a unit, located within MoPH, that is established in collaboration with WHO and AUB. Its mission is to contribute to rational and sustainable policy formation and implementation by:

• Institutionalising the reliance of MOH and key health sector stakeholders on strategic intelligence that contextualises technical evidence with operational knowledge of the health sector and analysis of stakeholder and end-user expectations and interests;
• Promoting effective and resilient collaborative approaches to health sector governance; and
• Enhancing the social consensus around shared health sector policies.

The PSO has three functions:

1. The PSO provides direct policy support inputs, to MOH and other health sector stakeholders, in terms of policy formation and translation into implementation. In doing so, the PSO:

• analyses the potential, limitations and implications of explicit, implicit and emergent policies and innovations in the health sector;
• provides technical assistance for upgrading the MOPH information system in order to generate pertinent information for decision making, policy implementation and evaluation;
• analyses and monitors the political geography of health sector stakeholders and people’s expectations regarding health care, with its implications for policy options;
• mobilises expertise, academic and other, in Lebanon and in other countries, so as to build an external knowledge network to guarantee that policy recommendations are based on the stateof-the art scientific evidence.

2. The PSO provides the permanent secretariat for the organisation of National Health Conference events involving a wide range of stakeholders in ongoing participative debates on key health sector issues. It assists the Organising Committee of the Conference to achieve, through the preparation, implementation and follow-up of these events, objectives of:

• Increased visibility of the technical work, achievements and innovations produced by health sector actors;
• Heightened awareness among stakeholders about competing priorities and emerging problems;
• Receptivity of public opinion to rational policies.

3. The PSO moderates a Platform of Communities of Practice, for:

• Enhanced exchange of experience;
• Accelerated dissemination of organisational innovations and benchmark practices by contagion and diffusion;
• Enhanced consensus around, involvement in and ownership of health sector reform initiatives championed by MOH;
• Institutionalised and sustained reliance on collaborative governance;
• Identification of challenges, weaknesses and opportunities requiring further analysis or research.