27 April 2020 – In a makeshift settlement in the Beqaa region of Lebanon, Syrian refugees live through the cold winters in tents or unfinished concrete buildings. Ghazi, a 32-year-old refugee, fled Syria with his family 5 years ago. He has no money for medicine if one of his 4 small children becomes sick. Fortunately, free primary health care (PHC) is made available to Syrian refugees throughout Lebanon. “Whenever any of the children come down with a cold or a common ailment, we run to the PHC centre close to the camp,” says Ghazi. “They always have someone check the kids and give us free medicines.”

Within the Lebanese health system, around 230 PHC centres regularly supply subsidized essential medications, serving people who would otherwise struggle to access the necessary treatment. In addition to offering primary care and acute care, the centres ensure that children, including all Syrian refugee children, are vaccinated. With support from the State of Kuwait and other donors, essential medications for acute conditions such as antibiotics, medications for asthma, and more were made available at PHC centres.

With timely funding and a record-time procurement, 102 items covering a range of 22 categories of medications were procured, serving approximately 350 000 beneficiaries in Lebanon – of whom around 140 000 were Syrian refugees. “We’re grateful for receiving support to keep essential pharmacological care accessible to all who need it,” said Dr Iman Shankiti, WHO Representative in Lebanon. “With this support, we can ensure that the most vulnerable access treatment and are not driven into further impoverishment.”