Palestinian kidney patients lie on hospital beds amid the 'Israeli' war on Gaza
Gaza dialysis patients at risk as hospitals struggle to cope
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- Hospitals in Gaza remain in crisis despite cessation of shelling, facing severe shortages of medicines and medical supplies.
- Chronic patients, children, and pregnant women are at heightened risk, with thousands unable to access critical care.
Dr. Mohammad Abu Salmiya, director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza, said that the halt in airstrikes has not eased the health crisis. Hospitals are operating at over 150% capacity, facing a severe shortage of medicines and daily deaths continue, he told Al Jazeera.
While casualties from shelling have decreased, the region faces a surge in severe illnesses, including a virulent influenza affecting children under one year, the elderly, and pregnant women, placing unprecedented strain on emergency departments.
Severe shortages and halted treatments
Abu Salmiya said more than 55% of essential medicines and 70% of medical consumables are unavailable. Some specialties experience shortages exceeding 100%, preventing proper treatment even for urgent cases.
Nearly 50% of dialysis patients cannot access their treatments, and cancer patients face similar life-threatening shortages. Tens of thousands of scheduled surgeries, including orthopedic, chest, and vascular operations, have been halted due to lack of supplies. Only about 20% of needed medicines have been delivered, with many mismatched to urgent needs.
Restricted medical transfers
More than 20,000 patients have completed paperwork for treatment abroad but were not allowed to travel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths so far, including cancer patients and children with severe illnesses.
Dr. Abu Salmiya warned that the rise in deaths among chronically ill patients and the elderly is fueled by interrupted treatment and respiratory illnesses, compounded by harsh winter conditions in inadequate shelters.
International warnings
Health organizations have warned of near-total collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system due to hospital destruction, depleted medical supplies, and restrictions on aid entry. Remaining hospitals operate with limited capacity amid shortages of fuel, water, and essential materials.
International medical organizations also highlight risks of infectious disease outbreaks and malnutrition, particularly among children in overcrowded shelters, which could trigger preventable deaths.
Abu Salmiya emphasized that the end of fighting does not mean an end to death, calling for urgent entry of medicines and supplies and immediate access for patients. “Every delay means new victims who could have been saved,” he said.
