Gaza, Health Ministry spokesperson: “Worsening health crisis in hospitals amid medicine shortages and generator failures”

The healthcare sector in the Gaza Strip continues to face severe conditions and major challenges, despite the announcement of a ceasefire, as restrictions on the entry of medicines, medical supplies, and equipment into hospitals persist.

Khalil Al-Daqran, spokesperson for Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, stated that hospitals across the Gaza Strip are experiencing an acute shortage of medical equipment and supplies. In addition, escalating electricity crises and the failure of several generators are threatening the continuity of healthcare services.

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Al-Daqran stressed that ongoing restrictions on the entry of medical supplies and essential materials are placing the healthcare system at risk of collapse. Hospitals are simultaneously facing increasing pressure due to a growing number of patients and wounded individuals, while operating with extremely limited resources.

He explained that medical teams are working under difficult and complex conditions, striving to maintain the delivery of essential healthcare services. However, the shortage of medicines and medical equipment, combined with the ongoing electricity crisis, is significantly hindering hospitals’ ability to respond to patients’ needs.

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He also warned that several medical departments may soon be forced to suspend operations if the situation continues unchanged, particularly given the rising demand for specialized medical services such as cardiac surgeries, oncology treatments, and intensive care.

Al-Daqran noted that thousands of patients awaiting travel for treatment outside the Gaza Strip are living in a state of anxiety and uncertainty following the reclosure of the Rafah crossing ten days ago.

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Economic researcher Ahmed Abu Qamar attributes the sharp rise in prices primarily to policies regulating the entry of goods and the severe restrictions imposed on commercial movement. He explains that coordination fees and other charges imposed on trucks entering Gaza ultimately fall on consumers, directly inflating prices

In conclusion, Al-Daqran renewed his call to international and humanitarian organizations to take urgent action to rescue Gaza’s healthcare sector by providing the necessary medicines and medical supplies and facilitating travel for patients whose conditions require treatment abroad. He emphasized that saving patients’ lives requires swift and effective intervention from the international community.

By Salma Kaddoumi