GAZA, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), The health ministry in the Gaza Strip has warned that laboratories and blood banks face a complete shutdown due to severe shortages of testing kits and medical supplies, driven by ongoing Israeli restrictions on their entry.
Sahar Ghanem, director of the ministry’s laboratories and blood banks unit, said in a press release on Thursday that these medical facilities face the threat of a total shutdown, with shortages reaching 87 percent in laboratory testing materials and 74 percent in basic consumables required for conducting laboratory and diagnostic tests for patients.
“Blood gas tests have stopped entirely, while Complete Blood Count (CBC) testing is at risk of a total shutdown within a few days,” Ghanem explained.
“Essential chemical tests across various medical departments face total disruption amid a severe shortage of collection tubes and fundamental lab supplies. The crisis is compounded by recurring breakdowns of dilapidated equipment and a deficit in materials needed to screen blood units,” she added.
The health official urged relevant authorities to intervene immediately to secure the critical supplies needed to keep these vital lifelines running.
