The PARAMED – HEALING HANDS project: strengthening skills of health workers in the public sector in order to improve the quality of care provided by the public health system

The severe crisis in Lebanon has exacerbated the difficulties of access to health services for the most vulnerable populations, who are increasingly turning to public hospitals and primary health care centers (PHCs), which are under severe strain. These facilities are facing both an increase in the number of patients and a severe shortage of staff. This situation leads to a deterioration in the quality of care, which primarily affects women and children. Despite this shortage, hospitals remain reluctant to recruit new graduates starting from class of 2020, whose level of training has been impacted by both the COVID and the economic crisis.

Since 2024, the IECD has been committed to improving the quality of care in the public health system by strengthening the workforce and skills of health workers in public hospitals and primary health care centres.

The project includes:

• Setting up training centres and providing equipment in hospitals.
• The implementation of training programmes for young graduates and unemployed young people in the centres (3 branches: nurses, caregivers, assistants) and support for their integration into hospitals, CSSPs or the home.
• The continuous education of existing staff in hospitals.