DaysofPal– As the world marks World Health Day, the Palestinian Ministry of Health warned that the healthcare system in the Gaza Strip is on the verge of collapse, citing severe shortages, widespread destruction, and ongoing restrictions that continue to endanger patients’ lives.
In a statement released Tuesday, the ministry said the global response to Gaza’s worsening medical crisis has been insufficient, describing the situation as a health genocide driven by the collapse of services and the inability to provide treatment to the sick and wounded.
The ministry stressed that the crisis has moved beyond temporary shortages to the near-total breakdown of the healthcare system.
Hospitals are operating under extreme conditions, with doctors forced to carry out procedures using limited equipment and dwindling medical supplies.
According to official figures, the death toll since the war began on October 7, 2023, has reached 72,208, with 172,068 people injured, including 21,524 children.
Since a ceasefire took effect in October 2025, at least 715 Palestinians have been killed, among them 223 children, highlighting the fragility of the truce.
Health authorities reported critical shortages across all sectors, including a 50% deficit in essential medicines, 57% in medical consumables, and 71% in laboratory supplies.
Cancer care has been particularly affected, with a 61% shortage in specialized drugs for around 4,100 patients. Other key services, including primary care, neurology, kidney treatment, surgery, and intensive care, are facing shortages exceeding 40%.
Several life-saving procedures, including open-heart surgery and cardiac catheterization, have been completely halted due to lack of resources, while supplies for eye surgeries are nearly exhausted.
The destruction of infrastructure has further compounded the crisis. At least 22 hospitals and 90 healthcare centers are no longer operational, and remaining facilities are functioning at reduced capacity, with hospital bed availability down by more than 55%.
Essential equipment, including imaging devices, is in short supply, while just 108 dialysis machines are available to serve 676 patients.
The ministry warned that shortages of fuel, generator oil, and spare parts could bring all remaining medical services to a halt at any moment.
Beyond the immediate medical crisis, the humanitarian toll continues to rise. The ministry reported approximately 5,000 amputations, including 980 children, and said 21,367 patients are awaiting permission to travel abroad for treatment. At least 1,517 patients have died while waiting for access to care outside Gaza.
Conditions in displacement camps are also deteriorating, with overcrowding and poor sanitation contributing to the spread of disease.
The ministry added that 83 healthcare workers remain in detention, further straining an already overwhelmed system.
Despite the ceasefire agreement, hostilities have persisted, with hundreds of casualties reported since October 2025.
More than 1,800 healthcare facilities have been damaged or destroyed since the start of the war, with total losses in the sector estimated at $1.4 billion.
The ministry called on the international community to take urgent action to restore medical supplies, rebuild damaged infrastructure, and ensure access to treatment, warning that without immediate intervention, Gaza’s healthcare system could collapse entirely.
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