Is it permissible to pay Zakat to a charity project in Western Europe that collects donations to purchase medical equipment and in-kind aid for hospitals, the poor, and the needy?

It is not permissible to equip hospitals with Zakat (definition) funds because Allah Almighty has specified its beneficiaries in His saying: "Indeed, [ prescribed ] charitable donations are only to be given to the poor and the needy, and to those employed to collect [ Zakat ], and to attract hearts [ to Islam ], and to [ free ] captives, and to those in debt, and for the cause of Allah, and to the traveler. [ This is ] an obligation from Allah, and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise." Hospitals open their doors to everyone, not just the poor. Donations for equipping them should be limited to funds specifically donated for that purpose, excluding Zakat funds.