GAZA, (Palestine Foundation Information Center) A senior official at Gaza’s Ministry of Health has confirmed that an imminent health disaster is threatening the lives of thousands of patients in the Gaza Strip due to the acute and ongoing shortage of medicines and medical supplies.
Zakaria Abu Qamar, Acting Director General of Pharmacy at the Ministry of Health in Gaza, stated in press remarks that 47% of essential medicines are completely unavailable, while the shortage rate of medical consumables has reached 65%. This effectively means that nearly half of the pharmaceutical services in Gaza have become non-operational.
He pointed out that oncology and hematology services are among the most affected, with 67% of medications for these patients unavailable.
Abu Qamar also highlighted that more than 51% of primary care medicines for chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and kidney failure are lacking, forcing patients to resort to less effective alternative treatments, potentially exposing them to serious complications.
He emphasized that the repeated displacement of patients due to the ongoing assault complicates the ability to monitor their health conditions or accurately assess the impact of the absence of treatment. However, initial indicators suggest rising rates of strokes and heart attacks and an increasing number of hospital admissions.
The director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, announced that the hospital has suspended general services due to fuel shortages, noting that Al-Shifa will cease operations entirely within hours, while fuel at Al-Helou Hospital will last less than four hours.
Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli occupation army has continued its genocidal campaign, committing massacres and war crimes against civilians, displaced persons, and Palestinian families in Gaza. This is accompanied by a tight siege, closure of border crossings, and prevention of fuel, medicine, and humanitarian aid from entering the Strip, along with cutting off electricity and water supplies.
