On Tuesday the 6th of February 2018 a workshop took place at the conference room at the ministry of public health in Beirut under the title “Genetic Testing and Human Health”.
The general aim of the workshop was to discuss the present law on the Mechanism to Protect Confidentiality of Citizens’ DNA Information and the decrees related to it.
The workshop was organized by the Lebanese Foundation for Permanent Civil peace, and in collaboration with the ministry of public health.
The workshop took place under the patronage and with the participation of H.E. Vice Prime Minister Ghassan Hasbini.
The workshop included five sessions; the first session was the opening session where a number of speakers had opening words who are; Dr. Antoine Massara - President of the Lebanese Foundation for Permanent Civil Peace, MP Yassin Jaber - Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on follow up of the implementation of Laws, Dr. Walid Ammar, General Director of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Fares el Zein, Baladi CAP- Chief of Party, H.E Mr. Ghassan Hasbani, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Health. This was facilitated by Lawyer Rabih KAYS.
The second session included a key note speech who Dr. Pierre Zalloua the key expert of the project had a power point presentation on: Recent Advances in Medical Genetic Testing.
The third session included many topics and a number of speakers have contributed to this session who are: Dr. Andre Mégarbané who had a presentation on Gene Testing and Ethical Principles; Dr. Michel Daher who had a presentation on The role of the National Bioethics Committee; Dr. Rasha Hamra who had a presentation about Current Role of the Ministry of Health in Regulating Genetic Research. This session was presided by H.E. MP Assem Araji.
The fourth session as well included many topics and also a number of speakers have contributed to this session who are: Mr. Antoine Roumanos who had a presentation on Monitoring Genetic Testing in Lebanon; and Dr. Rena El Imad who had a presentation about the Implications of Genetic Testing on Health Management. This session was presided by H.E. MP Naji Gharious.
The Fifth and last session was allocated for synthesis and recommendation where Dr. Antoine Messara, President of the Lebanese Foundation for Permanent Civil Peace had concluded some guidelines as a synthesis to this last session.