Cancer Treatment in ‘Catastrophic’ Condition Amid Israeli Assault
Gaza (Quds News Network)- The Palestinian Health Ministry has said intravenous chemotherapy and medical follow-up services for cancer patients in the Gaza Strip have been suspended, while 64 percent of cancer medications are out of stock due to the ongoing Israeli assault and blockade.
The evacuation of the European Hospital and the Gaza Cancer Centre following an Israeli displacement threat exacerbated the situation, the Thursday statement said, adding that 11,000 cancer patients are without adequate treatment and healthcare.
“Cancer patients are trapped in catastrophic health, social, psychological and economic conditions,” it said. “[We call] on all parties to pressure [Israel] to enable patients to travel for treatment abroad and bring in the necessary medication.”
On Wednesday, the Ministry said 22 of Gaza’s 38 hospitals are out of service. The remaining facilities are struggling to operate amid a “catastrophic” shortage of medical supplies.
Here are some figures the ministry provided in a statement:
- Forty-seven percent of the essential medicine list has been depleted, as well as 65 percent of the medical consumables list.
- Only 30 primary care centres are currently operating out of 105.
- Fifty operating rooms are currently working, albeit in dire conditions, out of 104.
- Twenty-five oxygen stations out of a total of 34 have been destroyed, leaving only 9 partly operational.
- Seven MRI machines were destroyed, leaving the Gaza Strip without diagnostic MRI equipment.
- Forty-nine of 110 generators are operating in the Gaza Strip’s hospitals, and they urgently need maintenance and fuel supplies.
Wednesday marks 600 days since the start of the Israeli genocide in the Palestinian enclave, with 54,084 people killed and 123,308 others injured.
