Islamic Hospital

The idea of establishing a charitable hospital and dispensaries to assure the medical needs of the needy persons of Tripoli and its district emerged in 1945, when a welfare association named “The Committee of Islamic Charitable Hospital” was legally instituted for that purpose under the guidance of the late Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Karameh.

The idea was realized in 1952 and the hospital, located at that time in Boulevard building, was financed from different resources:

• The share of Tripoli’s Moslem citizens in the fund known as “The Piaster for the poor” being a tax imposed by the Ministry of National Economy on consumable goods during World War II.
• The funds collected by the Founding Committee from donator’s contributions.
• The real estate and funds contributed by the Islamic Awkaf (endowment fund) in Tripoli.
• The contribution of the Iraq Petroleum Company (IPC) which took charge of assuring the furniture and equipment needed.

At that time, the hospital could not accommodate more than 35 beds. The main objective was to provide free medical services to all its patients without any discrimination as to confessional or political affiliations.

In 1955, the Islamic Hospital changed its location to Azmi Street.

During the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) most public institutions - including the State Hospital in Tripoli - were actually not functioning. The Islamic Hospital became the only shelter for the ever increasing number of needy patients from Tripoli and North Lebanon. So in order to increase the number of beds and provide the hospital with all that it requires in terms of medical equipment, the extension of its premises became a must. Many achievements have been realized since then to expand the hospital and include new departments.

A second extension was realized in 2003 when a new building was established on a lot belonging to the hospital and located across the street. It is noteworthy that in order to achieve this extension, his Royal Highness Prince Talal Ibn Abdul Aziz - as a chairman of AGFUND committee - presented a sum of 600,000 U.S Dollars as a donation to the Islamic Hospital in 1988.

The continuous efforts made and the concrete results obtained resulted in classifying The Islamic Hospital a “**** 4 Stars” hospital in 1992 and being recognized as a “public utility foundation” in 1990 to make it benefit from various material and moral advantages.