Hariri Social & Medical Center

Established in 1992, the Hariri Social & Medical Center (HFSMC) is the Hariri Foundation’s primary healthcare center.  Located in Saida’s historic district, the center provides high-quality, low-cost diagnostic, therapeutic, and primary surgical services to marginalized and vulnerable communities in the Saida region. 

HFSMC is registered as a primary healthcare center under the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, the center serves an estimated 20,000 patients annually. The center is distinguished for its research work, conducting studies and health surveys to advance the healthcare sector. Through continuous collaboration with various health institutions, the center’s Medical Training Unit provides public awareness prevention campaigns for local communities as well as skills development training for healthcare professionals. 

Services 

HFSMC provides a wide range of services, including medical consultations with specialists in public health, pediatrics, gynecology, general surgery, urology, cardiology, otolaryngology, dermatology, diabetes, and endocrine. It offers consultations with nutritionists, psychologists, as well as dental care services, such as dental checkups, cleaning, and filling. 

HFSMC provides primary surgical and laboratory operations, such as minor surgeries, first aid operations, and administration of vaccination. The center also provides laboratory tests, including dental X-rays, electrocardiograms, ultrasounds, and diabetes tests. HFSMC features a pharmacy which provides medicines at affordable rates, some of which are provided by the Ministry of Public Health and other private partners. 

Recently, HFSMC introduced its mental health services in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health and Premiere Urgence. The service includes assessments, counseling, information sharing, and awareness-raising, which are referral-based after confirmation of the need for psychological support. 

HFSMC conducts epidemiological and social research through local surveys and studies in collaboration with various public, private, and international health institutions operating in the city.  The center also strives to promote local partnerships, acting as a hub for networking among public and private health institutions in continuous joint efforts to organize healthcare trainings as well as local awareness campaigns and activities. 

The Facility 

HFSMC is housed in the 17th-century Emir Fakhreddine Palace in Saida’s historic district. The palace was affected by the 1956 earthquake and further urban interventions and later destroyed during the Lebanese civil war. It was later restored by the Hariri Foundation and operated as a primary healthcare upon the agreement with the national Public Institute for Housing, owner of the site. 

Earlier Social & Medical Centers 

The Hariri Foundation established several social and medical service centers across Saida in order to support the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health and Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs in providing healthcare and psychosocial services to underserved areas across South Lebanon. Following a mass survey conducted among local households to assess their social and health needs, 3 centers were established in Saida, including in Saida’s historic district, Taamir Ein El Hilweh, and the Dekerman area. Up until 2014, the Ein El Hilweh center served as the key social medical center servicing the beneficiaries of South Lebanon. 

The centers offered a wide range of services, including primary health care clinics, specialist clinics, cardiac units, minor surgery, vaccination, radiology, nursing services, dentistry, dietetic services, phlebotomy services, pharmacy, psychosocial support and social services. The centers’ establishment and expansion have greatly contributed to improving healthcare access in South Lebanon.