Medical official: Drug shortage threatens 200,000 patients and 10,000 surgeries

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip warned that the health system there is facing a “dangerous and unprecedented state of depletion” after two years of war and a crippling blockade, severely limiting its ability to provide diagnostic and treatment services. This is due to a sharp decline in stocks of medicines, medical supplies, and laboratory materials.

Dr. Alaa Helles, Director of the Department of Care and Pharmacy at the Ministry of Health in Gaza, stated in an exclusive interview with the Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the current situation regarding medicines, medical supplies, laboratory materials, and other essential needs threatens to halt or affect 10,000 surgical procedures. This is a consequence of the shortage of necessary supplies and medications, exacerbated by the ongoing Israeli blockade preventing the entry of medical aid needed by the Strip’s hospitals.

He explained that 321 essential medicines are currently unavailable, representing a 52% deficit, while 710 medical supplies are completely out of stock, a 71% deficit. The shortage of laboratory tests and blood bank supplies has reached 59%. Hales pointed out that the most significant drug shortages are in emergency services, particularly life-saving intravenous fluids, intravenous antibiotics, and analgesics. He explained that the shortage in emergency and intensive care services reached 38%, potentially depriving 200,000 patients of emergency care, 100,000 patients of surgical services, and 700 patients of intensive care.

The same spokesperson noted that the shortage in oncology services reached 70%, depriving 1,000 patients of treatment, while a number of patients have died due to the inability to complete their treatment protocols.