The Minister of Public Health in the caretaker government, Dr. Firas Al-Abyad, received today, Wednesday, a donation of 1.6 tons of chronic disease medications and antibiotics from the Pakistani Ambassador to Lebanon, Salman Atahar. This donation, provided by the Pharmaceutical Association of Pakistan, will be distributed to public hospitals and primary healthcare centers in various regions of Lebanon. The handover ceremony took place at the central drug warehouse in Karantina, where Minister Al-Abyad expressed gratitude to the state and people of Pakistan for supporting Lebanon.
In response to a question about the impact of donations received by Lebanon on the drug crisis, the Minister clarified that "it is known that the available amount for the Ministry of Public Health for purchasing medication and supplies is thirty-five million dollars, of which twenty-five million are for medicines, which is insufficient to cover the full required quantity of medication. Thus, the donations provide good support to ensure broader medication coverage for Lebanese citizens and residents on Lebanese soil."
For his part, Ambassador Atahar explained that "the donation sent by the Pakistani Pharmaceutical Association is made on behalf of the people of Pakistan to the needy and poor patients in Lebanon," emphasizing that "the people of Pakistan stand by their Lebanese brothers during the current economic hardships." He noted that "this donation is the first of its kind, and Pakistan looks forward to other initiatives in the near future."
