West Bank Health System Nears Collapse Amid Israeli Fiscal Measures

The healthcare system in the occupied West Bank is facing a critical collapse, with severe shortages of medications, ongoing strikes by healthcare workers, and health centers drastically reducing their operations. According to a report by the NGO Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI), many facilities are now open only one day a week.

PHRI attributes this dire situation to a liquidity crisis stemming from Israel's withholding of $2.5 billion in revenue belonging to the Palestinian Authority. The NGO argues that this continued retention of Palestinian funds is not merely a technical financial dispute but part of a broader policy with direct consequences for the civilian population.

"The continued retention of Palestinian revenues cannot be considered a technical financial dispute. It has become part of a broader policy with direct consequences for the civilian population," stated Milena Ansari, PHRI's director for the Palestinian territories. The report indicates that over 75% of Palestinian Ministry of Health centers, numbering 447 out of 590, have significantly cut back their activity. Since 2025, 63% of primary healthcare centers are operating partially, with many functioning at reduced capacity.