How Technology is Saving Lives in Lebanon’s Refugee Hospital
Al-Khobar, December 19, 2025 — In the heart of southern Lebanon, within the crowded confines of Al-Hamshari Hospital near Sidon’s Ein El-Hilweh refugee camp, a transformative innovation is quietly reshaping healthcare delivery. Despite limited resources, power instability, and connectivity challenges, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a crucial ally for doctors overwhelmed by relentless patient demand.
Serving over 4,000 patients monthly with just 56 doctors and 31 nurses, many of whom are Palestinian refugees excluded from Lebanon’s national health system, Al-Hamshari faces chronic understaffing and operational strain. Against this backdrop, a pilot program led by UK-Qatar healthtech startup Rhazes AI is charting new ground. It has introduced a generative AI clinical assistant designed to support frontline medical teams by listening, documenting, and guiding through complex cases in real time.
AI in the Trenches: Practical Innovation Amid Crisis
Dr. Zaid Al-Fagih, co-founder and CEO of Rhazes AI and a former NHS practitioner with humanitarian experience in Syrian war zones, emphasizes that AI’s potential should extend beyond affluent health systems. “They should start where the need is greatest,” he asserts.
The decision to deploy Rhazes at Al-Hamshari was strategic, explicitly aiming to test AI capabilities in one of the most under-resourced and conflict-affected healthcare environments. The hospital grapples with frequent power outages, poor internet connectivity, and minimal digital infrastructure — conditions that render most conventional digital health solutions infeasible.
“At Al-Hamshari, a pediatrics ward might have only two computers for the entire floor,” Al-Fagih explains. “To adapt, we deployed our system on smartphones and provided mini-printers, tools never used before there. This wasn’t just integration of AI – it was the introduction of digital health processes from the ground up.”
Functionality That Makes a Life-Saving Difference
The Rhazes AI assistant operates as an end-to-end clinical companion. It records patient consultations live, generates structured notes, suggests possible diagnoses, and offers treatment recommendations across multiple languages. Beyond clinical advice, the system produces discharge summaries, billing codes, and patient instructions, effectively condensing a comprehensive medical workflow into an intuitive, mobile interface.
In an environment where individual doctors may handle up to 60 patients daily across specialties — ranging from pediatrics and surgery to internal medicine and infectious diseases — this instant, evidence-based support is invaluable. It helps general practitioners fill critical expertise gaps, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and treatment confidence.
“Imagine managing a suspected meningitis case without a pediatric specialist nearby,” says Al-Fagih. “Rhazes delivers the same guidance as a specialist might — instantly, in the doctor’s own language, and directly on their phone.”
From Humanitarian Experience to Technological Solution
The project is deeply personal to Al-Fagih, who witnessed firsthand the consequences of insufficient medical support during the Syrian conflict. “Frontline doctors often must make life-or-death decisions without backup,” he recalls. “Every delay, every misdiagnosis carries a toll. Our AI was created to reduce uncertainty and bring structure when chaos reigns.”
Doctors at Al-Hamshari are already reporting significant improvements. The AI reduces paperwork, eases decision fatigue, and supports faster patient flow. According to early pilot data, the tool enjoys daily use by most medical staff, indicating strong acceptance even amid difficult conditions.
The pilot, launched in August 2025 and continuing through November, is undergoing evaluation on metrics including documentation efficiency, diagnostic precision, and overall operational impact.
Addressing Concerns: Privacy, Control, and Autonomy
Introducing AI in fragile healthcare contexts raises critical ethical questions. Dr. Al-Fagih stresses that Rhazes serves strictly as an assistant—not a replacement—for human clinicians. “The final clinical decision always rests with the doctor.”
He also highlights that digitizing patient records enhances confidentiality by replacing vulnerable paper files with password-protected digital formats. The system’s offline functionality ensures continuous operation despite unstable internet, syncing data only when connectivity permits — a vital feature in conflict zones prone to power loss.
A Vision of Regional Resilience
Looking beyond Lebanon, Rhazes aims to scale its humanitarian model throughout the Arab region, tailoring AI tools to the realities of Syria, Yemen, Sudan, and other fragile settings. “Some countries are building world-class hospitals; others are rebuilding from rubble,” says Al-Fagih. “Our AI must work across this spectrum, supporting healthcare workers wherever they serve.”
The long-term ambition is to establish an interconnected clinical intelligence network capable of maintaining continuity of care even amid infrastructure collapse.
Technology with a Human Face
At Al-Hamshari, the impact transcends efficiency improvements. “Doctors here support entire communities, not just individual patients,” explains Rola Soboh, a Rhazes associate involved in the pilot. “Easing their workload is about more than paperwork—it’s emotional and physical relief. Seeing technology genuinely help in this way inspires hope.”
From the emergency room’s bustling corridors to the dialysis unit quietly serving vulnerable refugees, Rhazes AI is already making that hope tangible. It represents a new paradigm where innovation moves from polished labs and privileged settings straight to the frontline challenges of humanitarian crises.
In Dr. Al-Fagih’s words: “This is what it looks like when AI closes a gap instead of widening it. Technology doesn’t need perfect conditions. It just has to start where it’s needed most.”
Amid flickering lights and humming generators, that vision is alive and saving lives in Lebanon’s refugee hospital.
For more insights on AI transforming healthcare in the Middle East, visit Arab News Eye On AI section.
