Faculty Spotlight

National Initiative to Reduce Health-Driven Poverty

Dr. Zahi Abdel Sater, Interim Dean of the College of Public Health at Phoenicia University, has served, from 2024 to present, as Scientific and Technical Lead on the initiative "Enhancing Access to Cancer Medicines through Innovative Private Insurance Plans". The initiative was conducted in multiple stages, including stakeholder discussions with pharmaceutical executives, policy makers and Third-Party Administrators on introducing coverage for oral oncology medication for the privately insured population. This culminated in a white paper and, most recently, an open-access article in Frontiers in Oncology as the first longitudinal, claims-based characterization of cancer care costs in Lebanon's privately insured population (doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2026.1924237). The findings will be shared with the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health and national insurers, recommending a dedicated oncology benefit design aimed at eliminating out-of-pocket costs for outpatient oncology medicines among Lebanese cancer patients. 
This initiative addresses poverty by tackling the financial hardship cancer imposes on Lebanese households at a time when out-of-pocket payments exceed 85% of national health expenditure. Analysis of 16,617 patients and USD 239.9 million of claims across seven years showed that cost concentrates sharply, whereby a high-cost cohort of 285 patients (1.7%) accounted for 23% of all spend, and cancer medicines drove 37.8% of expenditure despite surgery leading by patient volume. Because outpatient oncology medicines fall outside most Lebanese insurance plans, patients meet those costs themselves or are admitted to hospital unnecessarily to access covered treatment. Modelling conducted indicates that extending coverage to oral oncology treatment would modestly raise cost per insured member per year, representing a low-cost, high-impact intervention against health-driven poverty. 

Regional and National Poverty Policy Initiative – Dr. Hassan Hamie

Since 2018, Dr. Hassan Hamie has been contributing to teaching and academic activities at Phoenicia University, primarily in the field of engineering. Alongside his academic engagement, since joining the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in 2021, Dr. Hamie has served in various research and policy roles, including Research Assistant and Associate Social Affairs Officer, contributing to regional initiatives on social protection and poverty reduction. His work involves supporting the design and implementation of social development strategies across multiple Arab States, in collaboration with national ministries, regional stakeholders, and development partners.
While his professional work focuses on social and economic development policy, his academic contributions at Phoenicia University are centered on engineering education and student capacity development. Through teaching, mentoring, and knowledge sharing, he contributes to the University's commitment to advancing high-quality education and fostering the technical competencies required for sustainable development and innovation. His engagement in regional development initiatives brings valuable perspectives on inclusive development, social protection, and evidence-based policymaking to the broader academic community, reflecting Phoenicia University's commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).