By Caitlin Bartkus | Associate Specialist, Resource Development
Since the fall of 2019, Lebanon has been experiencing a socio-economic crisis. With the Lebanese economy deteriorating and the banking sector paralyzed, this crisis has created one of the deepest depressions recorded in modern times.
The Lebanese market is currently witnessing unprecedented shortages in certain kinds of medications, especially for acute illnesses. Moreover, the importation of medical equipment has also been limited due to monetary imbalances, waning foreign currency reserves and bank restrictions. It has been reported that several hospitals were cutting down on certain elective surgical procedures to stretch the reserve of anesthetics and other medical supplies for emergency procedures.
Throughout this period, International Medical Corps has been continuously identifying resources and supplies both in and outside of Lebanon with our local and international procurement and logistics teams to rapidly provide the needed medical supplies and medications.
In parallel, the country’s economic and monetary crisis extensively limited the importation of fuel and gas. Consequently, hospitals and healthcare facilities, have been experiencing daily power shortages for long hours due to cuts in the national electricity grid, and shortages of diesel fuel for their backup generators; hence, leaving hospitals functioning at 50% capacity, while others are shutting down because of a lack of resources.
Our team has procured, from international markets, 18 different kinds of chronic and acute medications to be distributed, in the coming months to all 57 International Medical Corps-supported Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCCs). In parallel, we are currently in the process of procuring additional medication from the Lebanese local market.
Our team works closely with the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health to ensure we meet the most urgent gaps. We anticipate reaching some 10,000 people from marginalized communities with these essential and critical medicines.
International Medical Corps is grateful to the GlobalGiving community of donors for raising awareness of the medication crisis in Lebanon.
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