The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have recently launched an EUR 10 million (US$ 10.9 million) grant support to boost healthcare sector resilience across Lebanon, including combating medicine scarcity and fragmented laboratory services.  The grant is set to support the re-establishment of the Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL) in Lebanon crucial for enhancing the detection capacity for emerging infectious diseases. It will test for emergency infectious diseases, promptly confirming potential pathogens to prevent outbreaks, which will be especially relevant among vulnerable displaced populations and refugees. The CPHL will also test all blood donations to ensure safe transfusions. The agreement will also unlock provision of essential medicines and expert support to primary healthcare centers across Lebanon. This will enable public healthcare centers to restore services, including reproductive health and prevention of gender-based violence, addressing specific gender gaps in services.  This initiative will prioritize medication provision and healthcare support, including supporting over 50,000 people with chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, and cancer. Vulnerable populations, includingthose affected by the current conflict, Syrian refugees and others will benefit from this initiative. Lebanon hosts approximately 1.5 million Syrian refugees and around 200,000 Palestinian refugees, constituting about one-third of the total Lebanese population. (ICE BEIRUT)

Fonte notizia: Bank Audi, Lebanon Weekly Monitor, 10 - 16 March 2025