Health Minister Jamil Jabak met on Friday with the Deputy Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Juan Carlos Lentijo, accompanied by a delegation from the National Atomic Energy Authority headed by Bilal Nsouli.

Talks reportedly touched on the best ways of boosting cooperation between the IAEA and the Ministry of Health to benefit from courses, workshops, awareness, and guidance, as well as support in the field of radiological uses in medical matters.

Jabak stressed the importance of helping patients suffering from serious and intractable diseases in the field of nuclear medicine, "which has become very sophisticated worldwide and greatly contributes to helping patients, whether with diagnosis or treatment."

"The Ministry of Health and the Lebanese State are ready to cooperate with the Agency and the National Authority with the aim of providing the best for patients," the Minister said, thanking the Deputy Director General of the IAEA and the accompanying delegation of the National Authority.

In turn, Lentijo said that his visit aims to strengthen the national program in Lebanon on the use of radioactive materials and chemicals, and to reach recommendations and proposals that the Lebanese government and its agencies could use to improve this program.

The pair also discussed the need to develop joint work in the future, "especially in light of the vast experience of joint work between Lebanon and the International Atomic Energy Agency aimed at improving the capabilities of Lebanon in the field of enhancing security and safety in the use of radioactive materials."