By Youssef Aouli | Health Project Manager
Alzahraa Medical Center (AMC) is a Primary Health Care Center located between Mankoubin and Jabal Mohsen in Tripoli, North Lebanon. It operates under the Alawite Islamic Charity Association (AICA), a Lebanese charitable, non-political, and non-profit organization established in 1950 under Notification/Decree No. 4500/1950. AICA’s public profile describes its work across health, education, food security, WASH, emergency response, and community support, with Alzahraa Medical Center listed among its core institutions.
Founding and institutional growth
AMC was established in November 2008 as a dispensary in response to a critical gap in healthcare provision in the surrounding community. It later expanded into a full Primary Health Care Center by late 2016. The center built and maintained partnerships with the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Social Affairs, YMCA, Médecins Sans Frontières, Relief International, and PU-AMI, with MSF support active again from April 2024 onward.
AMC receives patients without discrimination based on gender, color, race, or religion. It provides general and specialist consultations, free medicines where available, chronic medication support, vaccinations, and a package of primary healthcare services. The January 2026 narrative report states that the center receives an average of around 7,000 beneficiaries per month from different areas of North Lebanon.
Current services and subsidized access
AMC continues to provide affordable medical services in partnership with AICA and the Ministry of Public Health.
MSF NCD and mental health partnership
Through its renewed partnership with Médecins Sans Frontières, AMC strengthened services for non-communicable diseases and mental health. The program supports patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and other NCD-related needs. Patients may renew chronic medications for a symbolic fee of 50,000 LBP (0.56 USD).
Due to increased demand for chronic medications and laboratory testing, access to lab services is linked to registration through the YMCA program in coordination with the Ministry of Public Health. The AMC pharmacy also supports rapid dispensing of available medications with instructions to patients, while MSF remains a key partner when Ministry-supported medication is unavailable.
World Bank / MoPH / MoSA health support
The World Bank/MoPH health-support initiative was launched on 1 September 2024 for low-income families registered with the Ministry of Social Affairs. By the reporting period, 1,960 individuals from 380 families had been registered, with a target of 3,000 individuals pending further approval.
UNICEF-supported mobile and outreach activities
Mobile outreach has become a major part of AMC’s work. Publicly indexed AMC posts describe mobile clinic activities under the slogan “Because Your Health Matters,” including free medical consultations, nursing services, general practitioner consultations, midwife and nutritionist support, medication distribution, vaccination-related awareness, and services in shelters and Jabal Mohsen Park.
The mobile primary healthcare unit includes a public health doctor, nurses, and a licensed midwife. The team conducts routine visits to shelters in Jabal Mohsen, provides free consultations, essential medications, and referrals, and dedicates two days per week to services in the public garden.
Emergency response for newly arrived Syrian refugees
In response to the increased arrival of displaced Syrian families, particularly in Akkar, Koura, and Jabal Mohsen, AMC coordinated with the United Nations and MSF to deliver urgent assistance. The response included primary medical care, food aid, essential supplies, a dedicated registration link for tracking aid distribution, initial distributions in Akkar, and partial medical coverage at AMC through MSF support.
Mobile clinic support for forcibly displaced Syrian families in shelters across Tripoli, including medical examinations, free medication, vaccination services, and awareness on the importance of vaccines.
Community-based health expansion
Five schools were officially selected as operational centers for expanded community-based health activities, with preparations underway to initiate activities starting November 2025. The purpose is to improve outreach, preventive and primary healthcare access, and geographical coverage for targeted beneficiaries.
Main challenges and responses
AMC’s current challenges are:
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