On Friday, March 28, 2025, “Al Mustakelloun” Political Organization, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Lebanon and Dr. Wadih El-Hage Foundation, organized a collaborative initiative to address the fragmentation of healthcare services in Metn, where over 70 institutions currently operate without coordination. The event, hosted at the Maronite Diocese of Antelias, aimed to forge a coordinated, equitable healthcare and social safety net model amid Lebanon’s economic and social crises.
The event opened with remarks from Rebecca Abou Nader, Vice President of the Dr. Wadih El-Hage Foundation, and Monsignor Charbel Ghossoub, representing Maronite Archbishop Antoine Bou Najem of Antelias.
Michael Bauer, Country Director of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Lebanon, underscored the urgency of collective action amid Lebanon’s crises: “Today’s event is a platform to reimagine healthcare and social systems to meet the Lebanese people’s rising needs.”
MP Dr. Razi El-Hage, founder of “Al Mustakelloun,” advocated for decentralized healthcare as essential to social justice: “Sustainability demands institutionalized coordination. Only together can Metn model equity, not disparity.”
The event featured insightful panel, moderated by journalist Majd Bou Hadir, experts addressed key healthcare and social protection challenges. Dr. Joseph Al-Helou provided an overview of the obstacles and opportunities in primary healthcare services, while Minister of Social Affairs Hanine Sayyed emphasized the role of robust social safety nets in poverty reduction. MP Dr. Bilal Abdallah discussed the legal frameworks needed to strengthen public health infrastructure, and Dr. Faten El-Hage presented a practical model for integrating healthcare and social security.
Ahead of the main event, a specialized workshop titled “Bridging the Gap Between Centralized Healthcare and Field Needs in Metn,” led by MP Dr. Razi El-Hage. Participants mapped actionable steps to align policy with on-ground realities.
The initiative establishes a framework for ongoing cross-sector collaboration with the goal of positioning Metn as a national model for equitable healthcare. By translating dialogue into concrete partnerships, organizers aim to ensure no community is left behind in Lebanon’s recovery efforts.