The Medical Assistance Program started in 1988 through the initiative
of the YMCA Lebanon with the aim of providing chronically ill patients
with the required medicines during the hard time of war in Lebanon. The
project benefited chronically ill patients with acute poverty as well as
refugees displaced as a result of the war. The project aimed at
providing these subjects with drugs free of charge through existing
local dispensaries operated by local NGOs.
In 1993, and as recognition of the importance of the program
increased, the Ministry of Public Health (MOH) intervened with its
financial support for the program. In 2009 the MOH contribution amounted
to 4.875 billion Lebanese pounds ($3.2 million US Dollars).
Part of the medical assistance work that the YMCA engages in
includes:
Awareness campaigns to the public especially in
disadvantaged communities on health related matters including
communicable and non-communicable diseases, substance abuse and life
styles that affect health at large
Vaccination and immunization campaigns against polio and
measles as determined, supported and monitored by the MoPH, the WHO and
UNICEF
Health prevention programs especially for non-communicable
diseases including endocrine complications, cardio-vascular problems and
pulmonary illnesses
Emergency relief and assistance in cases of conflict,
internal displacement and war.
Medical Assistance Program for the Chronically Ill
Funding Agency
The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health (MOPH)
Duration
Perpetual
Beneficiaries
See Below for 2009
Description
The YMCA works with 447 partner clinics and dispensaries
around the country. Over the past few years, it has established a
computerized medical records system which provides increased speed and
accuracy at all stages of a patient’s care from data entry to the
reporting of results, covering programmatic, financial, warehousing and
other key aspects.
The computer information also helps control the work in the
socio-medical centers so that proper distribution of the medicines, good
follow-up with beneficiaries and all treatment procedures are
implemented according to the program rules and regulations. All
participating dispensaries must be officially licensed by MOH. In
addition, they have to meet special criteria, defined by the YMCA of
Lebanon which states that the dispensaries should be equipped with
qualified physicians and staff, they should be able to fulfill the
administrative requirements of the project, and they should reliably
adhere to the inclusion criteria of the benefiting patients.
