LEBANON (Enmaeya News) - October 20, 2025

The head of the Parliamentary Health Committee, Dr. Bilal Abdullah, submitted two draft laws aimed at enhancing doctors’ retirement benefits and protecting their professional immunity, following a request from the Beirut Doctors’ Syndicate President, Dr. Elias Chalala, and the Syndicate Council.

The first draft law seeks to amend Article 44 of Law No. 313 of 2000, stipulating that a doctor cannot be questioned about an alleged crime without first notifying the relevant Doctors’ Syndicate, with the requirement that the Syndicate president or a delegate be present during the questioning. It also prohibits provisional detention of a doctor without the Syndicate Council’s approval, thereby strengthening professional immunity while considering the nature of their work and patient welfare.

The second draft law proposes amending the law issued on December 29, 1954, regarding the establishment of the retirement fund for the Doctors’ Syndicates in Beirut and Tripoli. It seeks to increase the portion of funds allocated to retirement to 20% of the fund’s annual resources, in addition to any extra amounts approved by the Syndicate Council based on an actuarial study conducted every three years, ensuring doctors receive a fair pension.

The rationale behind these proposals highlights that doctors are often subject to unjustified legal actions, and the current retirement system does not keep pace with economic and social developments, making these laws essential to protect doctors and secure their dignity and livelihood after completing their professional service.