Jul, 2026
Vital medical aid from Americares provides a boost to a healthcare system under strain
As conflict and displacement continue to place pressure on Lebanon's healthcare system, public hospitals across the country are managing increased patient numbers while facing ongoing shortages of essential medicines and medical supplies.
At Rafik Hariri University Hospital, one of Lebanon's largest public hospitals, medical teams have seen a significant rise in demand for emergency and inpatient services. The hospital has also been serving a growing number of displaced families seeking medical care.
"With every security event, the number of patients increases because we are frontliners," says Fathallah Fattouh, chairman of the emergency department at the Hariri Hospital. "This year, the strain multiplied because we carried the heavy burden of the displaced population."
To help address critical medicine shortages, Anera, with funding from Americares, has provided priority intravenous medications requested by the Lebanon Ministry of Public Health.
The donation includes 14,425 ampoules of propofol, 7,500 ampoules of midazolam, and 20,000 ampoules of omeprazole. Anera distributed the medicines to ten public hospitals across Lebanon to support emergency care and essential medical services.
According to Hariri Hospital’s chief pharmacist Raida Bitar, the shortages have affected hospitals nationwide.
“Propofol is a drug that plays a vital role in sedating patients who require lifesaving surgeries," she says. "The demand skyrocketed far beyond anything we had seen before. As for midazolam, a sedative used for medical procedures and for inducing general anesthesia, it was completely unavailable to private and public hospitals alike."
The donated medicines are used in a range of emergency and surgical procedures and help hospitals continue providing care to patients requiring urgent treatment.
Healthcare providers have also observed the impact of the economic situation on patient health. Many displaced families delay seeking care because of financial constraints, often arriving at hospitals with more advanced medical conditions.
"Our capacity has easily doubled," says Sara El Kouzi, emergency physician at the Hariri Hospital. "Displaced families are arriving with severe medical complications because they have no financial means and are forced to prioritize food over buying their daily medications."
By supplying essential medicines to public hospitals, this Americares-Anera intervention strengthens the ability of healthcare facilities to continue serving patients during a period of heightened demand. The support is expected to benefit approximately 14,000 patients, including displaced families from the war, refugees and vulnerable host community members across Lebanon.
"Displaced families are arriving with severe medical complications because they have no financial means and are forced to prioritize food over buying their daily medications."
Dr. Sara El Kouzi
Featured medical aid partner: Americares
