This report presents the results of a transparency assessment carried out in Lebanon.

It gives a comprehensive assessment of the level of transparency and the level of vulnerability to corruption within the six primary functions of the pharmaceutical sector – registration, inspection, promotion, selection, procurement and distribution of medicines.

The methodology provides both qualitative and quantitative information. Three national investigators, selected by the Ministry of Health, collected data by conducting a series of interviews with 50 carefully selected key informants. The information collected was then converted using a rough quantification method into a zero to 10 scale, to provide a score for each function in terms of vulnerability to corruption (minimal to extreme). The scoring indicates the vulnerability in terms of the policy, the regulatory and administrative structures and the procedures at the time of the survey.

The quantitative data reveal that the area of medicine distribution received the highest score and is minimally vulnerable to corruption; medicines registration, inspection, and procurement are marginally vulnerable to corruption; and the promotion and selection functions had the lowest scores and are moderately vulnerable to corruption.

The results indicate the vulnerabilities of the policy, structures, and procedures in place at the time of the survey. They do not reveal in any way the level of possible existing corruption in the country.