About 50 percent of dialysis machines have stopped working

The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced today that 50 percent of the dialysis machines in the Gaza Strip have stopped working due to a shortage of medical supplies.

In a statement, the ministry said that 25 out of 51 dialysis machines in the Strip have recently gone out of service due to the shortage of medical supplies, warning of serious consequences that could lead to death among kidney patients.

For his part, Dr. Ghazi Al-Yazji, head of the artificial kidney department at Al-Shifa Medical Complex, stated that the dialysis unit is facing a severe crisis as a result of several machines being out of service due to a shortage of sodium bicarbonate, which is essential for operating the dialysis machines. He added that only 26 dialysis machines remain partially operational in the sector, placing immense pressure on the department and forcing medical staff to implement emergency measures. These measures include reducing dialysis sessions from four to three hours and decreasing the number of weekly sessions from three to two, negatively impacting patients’ health and increasing their risk. He emphasized that this ongoing shortage threatens the stability of services and jeopardizes the lives of kidney failure patients. He noted that the situation has led to a deterioration in the health of approximately 240 patients suffering from stage five chronic kidney failure, with an increased risk of cardiac and respiratory complications, which in some cases can lead to death.

Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli occupation has tightly closed Gaza’s crossings to aid and supply trucks, which are stranded at the border. Only a few dozen trucks are allowed entry, while Palestinians in Gaza require a minimum of 500 trucks daily.