Gaza Health Sector Faces Critical Shortages Amid Ongoing War

Gaza's health sector is grappling with a deepening crisis, exacerbated by the ongoing Israeli war that began after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Hospitals have suffered damage from Israeli raids and strikes, while the control over the entry of medicines and medical supplies, as well as the departure of patients for treatment abroad, further complicates an already dire situation.

The Gaza Health Ministry issued a stark warning that the remaining oxygen stations are exhausted and operating beyond their limits. Only 12 of the 34 oxygen stations remain functional under difficult technical conditions, struggling to meet the needs of health facilities and home-care patients. Furthermore, only four of 30 oxygen-cylinder filling units are operational, risking complete shutdown due to a lack of maintenance capabilities.

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Dialysis sessions are the only barrier between life and death for these patients, warning that any disruption to supplies or equipment could pose an immediate threat to hundreds of lives.

The crisis is particularly acute for kidney patients, with the Hind al-Daghma Dialysis Center treating over 200 patients amid severe shortages of supplies and equipment. The head of the dialysis department highlighted that rising demand and dwindling resources create harsh conditions that have already led to patient deaths, emphasizing that any disruption poses an immediate threat to hundreds of lives.

Cancer patients face similarly grave conditions. The medical director of the Gaza Cancer Center warned of an unprecedented deterioration, with severe shortages of essential treatments and travel restrictions impacting approximately 11,000 individuals. Three cancer patients are reportedly dying daily from complications, and around 4,000 patients with official referrals for overseas treatment remain unable to leave Gaza due to strict restrictions and closed crossings. The center lacks radiotherapy entirely and faces critical shortages of chemotherapy drugs, with cancer medications accounting for 61% of all medicines in short supply. The destruction of specialized treatment centers has forced medical teams to make difficult decisions, such as performing full mastectomies in early-stage breast cancer cases due to the unavailability of radiotherapy and the difficulty of traveling abroad.

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Gaza lacks radiotherapy entirely and faces severe shortages of chemotherapy, with cancer drugs accounting for 61% of medicines in short supply.