GAZA, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), Gaza’s health ministry has warned that the Strip’s medical system is facing imminent collapse, with thousands of surgeries and lifesaving treatments at risk due to severe shortages of vital medicines and supplies.
Dr. Alaa Helles, director of the ministry’s department of care and pharmacy, told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that more than 10,000 surgical operations could be disrupted as Israel continues to block the entry of essential medical aid.
According to Dr. Helles, 321 essential medicines are missing from hospital shelves, representing a 52 percent deficit, while 710 medical consumables have run out completely, representing a 71 percent shortage. Laboratory tests and blood bank supplies face a 59 percent deficit, crippling diagnostic and treatment capacity.
Emergency services are among the hardest hit, with shortages of intravenous solutions, antibiotics, and painkillers reaching 38 percent. This could deprive 200,000 patients of emergency care, 100,000 patients of surgery, and 700 patients of intensive care. Cancer patients are also suffering, with a 70 percent shortage in oncology drugs leaving 1,000 patients without treatment. Some cancer patients have already died after being unable to complete therapy protocols.
Meanwhile, cardiac catheterization and open‑heart surgery have completely stopped, with 100 percent of medicines and consumables unavailable. Orthopedic operations are also paralyzed, with 99 percent of scheduled procedures suspended due to the lack of bone stabilizers and other critical supplies.
Primary care is collapsing as well. 62 percent of medicines are missing, leaving nearly 288,000 patients vulnerable to strokes, heart attacks, and other complications without diagnostic or therapeutic interventions.
Dr. Helles has estimated that around 200,000 patients are directly affected by the shortages, including 700 intensive care patients monthly, 10,000 surgical patients, noting that 200,000 emergency cases are admitted to hospitals each month.
200,000 Patients at Risk
Eye surgeries are also threatened, according to Dr. Helles, with even basic examination drugs such as dilation drops unavailable, while laboratory services are crippled, with 59 percent of essential tests missing, including blood counts, electrolyte tests, blood typing, bacterial cultures, and tests for kidney failure patients.
Urgent Appeal
Dr. Helles has issued an urgent appeal to international parties and mediators to intervene immediately, warning that any delay in replenishing supplies will push Gaza’s health services closer to total collapse and paralysis.
Since the October ceasefire, Israel has allowed in only 30 percent of Gaza’s monthly medical needs, while continuing to restrict the number of medical supply trucks permitted into the Strip.
