NNA - On the occasion of the launch of its second Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report 2024–2026, Hôtel-Dieu de France held a ceremony on June 23, 2026, dedicated to social responsibility and sustainable development. The event highlighted the institution's commitment, as well as the many initiatives and achievements led by its teams in support of a more responsible and sustainable future.
The event was attended by Her Excellency Mrs. Tamara El Zein, Minister of Environment; Mrs. Deenah Fakhoury, Executive Director of UNGC Lebanon (UN Global Compact Network Lebanon); Prof. François Boëdec,, Rector of Saint Joseph University of Beirut and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hôtel-Dieu de France; and Mr. Nassib Nasr, Director General of the HDF-USJ Hospital Network, alongside the institution's partners and members of the administrative, medical, nursing, and hospital staff.
The gathering provided an opportunity to showcase the major achievements and strategic projects included in Hôtel-Dieu de France's CSR Strategy 2024–2026. The various speakers emphasized the strength of a collective and cross-functional approach, driven by staff commitment and efficient resource management, in support of meaningful environmental, social, and institutional impact.
Through the concrete initiatives implemented during this period, Hôtel-Dieu de France reaffirmed its commitment to embedding the principles of sustainable development at the heart of its activities and further strengthened its position as a leading institution in the field of corporate social responsibility in Lebanon.
Mr. Nassib Nasr recalled that social responsibility constitutes a fundamental pillar of Hôtel-Dieu de France's mission, particularly in a context where access to healthcare remains a major challenge in Lebanon. He highlighted that the second CSR Report, covering the years 2024 and 2025 as well as part of 2026, reflects the collective mobilization of all teams and the remarkable growth of initiatives carried out for the benefit of patients and the wider community. He notably underscored the efforts made to improve access to healthcare, which enabled nearly 50,000 patients to receive support over the past two years. Stressing that social responsibility is everyone's responsibility, he praised the commitment of employees across the entire hospital network. Mr. Nasr also referred to the strengthening of collaboration with the UN Global Compact Network Lebanon, particularly through projects aimed at reducing food waste, before announcing the creation of three internal awards designed to recognize the most impactful social and environmental responsibility initiatives.
Following the screening of a video highlighting the projects and initiatives carried out between 2024 and 2026, Mrs. Deenah Fakhoury commended Hôtel-Dieu de France's commitment to sustainable development and emphasized the institution's visionary outlook and strong sense of purpose. She recalled the role of the United Nations Global Compact, which brings together more than 24,000 companies worldwide principles related to human rights, labour, the environment, and anti-corruption, in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.
She also stressed the essential role institutions play in transforming societies amid multiple ongoing crises. Referring specifically to the healthcare sector, she noted that sustainability extends beyond environmental concerns to encompass governance, ethics, inclusion, resource management, and quality of life in the workplace.
Mrs. Fakhoury further highlighted the importance of fostering a culture of sustainability embraced collectively across all teams and departments. She expressed her appreciation for the partnership established with Hôtel-Dieu de France and reaffirmed the importance of collaborations built on trust and collective action to help shape a more sustainable future.
Prof. François Boëdec, for his part, recalled that social responsibility has been embedded in the institution's DNA since its foundation. Referring to the words of Father Chanteur during the laying of the foundation stone of Hôtel-Dieu de France in 1922, he emphasized that the hospital's core vocation remains the service of every person in their dignity, with competence, compassion, and responsibility.
He stressed the importance of preserving this humanistic mission, which is reflected daily through the quality of care provided, support for the most vulnerable, education, research, and service to the community. He also recalled that the principles of social responsibility should neither be viewed as a mere communication exercise nor as an additional constraint, but rather as an integral part of the institution's mission. He underscored the importance of the 2024–2026 CSR Report and praised the commitment of the teams, as well as the many initiatives undertaken for the benefit of patients, society, and the environment. Finally, he reaffirmed Hôtel-Dieu de France's determination to continue developing a sustainable, ethical, and inclusive healthcare model, reminding attendees that while science heals and innovation transforms, it is humanity that gives true meaning to the hospital's mission.
Her Excellency Mrs. Tamara El Zein highlighted the strong ties that connect her to Hôtel-Dieu de France and praised both the excellence of the care provided and the dedication of its teams. She recalled that, in the face of the successive crises Lebanon has endured, the institution has consistently remained faithful to its medical and humanitarian mission, placing human values, trust, empathy, and attentive listening at the heart of its actions, beyond performance considerations alone.
Emphasizing that every patient is first and foremost a person with unique needs, she expressed her pride in the essential role played by Hôtel-Dieu de France within Lebanon's healthcare system. Referring to the cooperation between the Ministry of Environment and the hospital, she also commended the quality, rigor, and professionalism demonstrated in matters relating to medical waste management.
Mrs. El Zein concluded by reaffirming the need to strengthen synergies between public institutions, healthcare organizations, academia, and local authorities in order to promote a sustainable environmental culture and reinforce the foundations of responsible citizenship.
The ceremony also provided an opportunity to highlight the initiatives developed within the institution through the presentation of three awards recognizing exemplary projects and actions. The RSE Team Award, presented to the Eco-friendly operating room team, honored a remarkable initiative in the field of social and environmental responsibility. The RSE Innovation Award, awarded to the Technical Services Department, recognized innovative initiatives promoting sustainable development. Meanwhile, the "Small Action, Big Impact" Award, dedicated to the Dietetics Department, distinguished simple actions that generated significant positive outcomes.
The event concluded with a convivial cocktail reception, which encouraged dialogue among participants and helped strengthen opportunities for collaboration in support of the social responsibility and sustainable development initiatives championed by the institution.
