By Youssef Aouli | Health Project Manager
About Alzahraa Medical Center
Alzahraa Medical Center (AMC) is a primary healthcare center operating under the Alawite Islamic Charity Association (AICA), located between Mankoubin and Jabal Mohsen in Tripoli, North Lebanon. Established with the Ministry of Public Health in 2008 and upgraded to a primary healthcare center in 2016, AMC provides general and specialized consultations, vaccinations, laboratory services, pharmacy support, and chronic disease care to vulnerable communities without discrimination. Its services reach patients from Tripoli and other areas of North Lebanon.
July at a Glance
During July 2026, AMC recorded 2,999 healthcare service contacts and visits, representing 49.98% of its monthly service target of 6,000. Of these contacts, 1,681 were recorded for female patients, 1,317 for male patients, and one had no recorded gender. These figures include repeat visits and must not be interpreted as 2,999 distinct people. The highest-volume services were pharmacy (807), general medicine (674), laboratory (343), and nursing care (275), alongside cardiology (152), midwifery (129), dentistry (103), orthopedics (89), vaccination (83), gynecology (77), and endocrinology (63).
A New Pathway to Care
July marked an important transition following the conclusion of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) support at the end of June. AMC introduced the Ministry of Public Health-supported Hashasha Project (IAHAM / Mini-LPSP), providing a new access pathway for eligible vulnerable Lebanese patients. Eligibility is determined through the Phenics social vulnerability assessment and clinical criteria; approved services may receive 60% or 100% coverage depending on the assessment outcome. The package includes general practitioner consultations, selected specialist services and laboratory tests, non-communicable disease care, reproductive health services, and eligible medications.
Early Results of Hashasha
In its first month, the Hashasha project recorded 204 unique patients, 224 project visits, 298 medical acts, and four follow-ups in Phenics. The initial service mix included general medicine, laboratory, cardiology, endocrinology and diabetes care, and midwifery. These project-specific figures are distinct from AMC’s overall service-contact total and should not be added to it. AMC also flagged 15 Hashasha data-quality cases for review before external reporting, reflecting the need for careful verification during program start-up.
Continuity Beyond Project Eligibility
AMC continued providing subsidized general and specialized medical consultations while guiding patients through changing eligibility and coverage arrangements. Its in-house pharmacy supported dispensing and coordination with Ministry of Public Health and YMCA pathways for available medicines and laboratory access. The center also maintained coordination between its fixed-site services and the PSU mobile primary healthcare approach, helping vulnerable people who face transportation or other access barriers. Because Hashasha has specific nationality and vulnerability criteria, AMC continued directing patients outside the program toward other available services where feasible.
Challenges and AMC’s Response
The transition from MSF assistance to a differently targeted support mechanism created uncertainty for patients requiring continuing care, particularly those managing chronic conditions. AMC responded with direct patient guidance, clinical eligibility screening, and coordination with available partners. Rising operating costs added further pressure: diesel prices increased, and the backup generator electricity tariff reached USD 40 per ampere in July. AMC monitored fuel consumption and electricity expenditure while maintaining contingency measures to support service continuity. Staff also reconciled Odoo and Phenics records separately to improve the accuracy of project reporting.
Looking Ahead
AMC’s priorities are to consolidate Hashasha implementation, verify the flagged data-quality records, sustain affordable consultations and pharmacy services, strengthen appropriate referral and medication pathways, and monitor the effect of energy costs on service delivery. July demonstrated the center’s ability to adapt its healthcare model during a funding transition while continuing to provide essential medical services. Continued community and donor support remains important to protect affordable healthcare access for vulnerable families in North Lebanon.
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