Gaza’s medical system ‘in free fall’ as Israeli restrictions persist despite ceasefire

Barely functioning hospitals and medical centres across Gaza are once again running out of medicine, equipment and basic medical supplies, pushing the health system closer to collapse.

Medical officials told The National hundreds of essential items are unavailable after months of restrictions on the entry of medical items, leaving emergency rooms and intensive care units critically under-resourced.

Human rights groups and UN agencies say that despite an increase in aid entering Gaza, Israel continues to block the entry of many medical items, citing concerns they could be diverted for “other purposes”. While some organisations were able to bring in equipment that briefly eased the strain on hospitals after the October ceasefire, the situation has since deteriorated.

Dr Mounir Al Bursh, director general of Gaza’s health authority, said there is zero stock of 321 essential medicines, while more than 710 types of medical supplies are unavailable. Emergency and intensive care services are operating with a 38 per cent deficit, he added, as only about 30 per cent of Gaza’s basic medical needs are entering the strip.

“The health system in Gaza is experiencing an unprecedented collapse,” Dr Al Bursh told The National. "This is the most severe medical crisis Gaza has ever faced", despite the current ceasefire after two years of war in which more than 70,000 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire.

He said the shortages have paralysed core hospital services. Open-heart surgery, cardiac catheterisation and many routine procedures have stopped, while 99 per cent of orthopaedic surgery in recent weeks has been postponed.

Dialysis services are under threat. Gaza has around 650 patients with kidney failure, who require more than 7,800 dialysis sessions each month, but suppl