‘Israeli’ insulin ban threatens lives of thousands of Gazan children, Health Ministry warns

Gaza’s Ministry of Health has warned that medicine shortages are putting patients with chronic illnesses at risk, as thousands of people with type 1 diabetes depend on uninterrupted insulin access. Shortages of blood sugar testing strips and the shutdown of most primary healthcare centres are making it harder for families to manage diabetes safely.

The warning comes as families struggle to secure insulin and blood sugar monitoring equipment for children who require daily treatment. A report published by the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) on Oct. 16 documented the case of a 10-year-old boy whose mother said she had been forced to use expired insulin because she could not obtain an adequate supply of medication.

Thousands depend on uninterrupted insulin access

In a report published on Oct. 11, Gaza’s Ministry of Health warned that approximately 350,000 people with chronic illnesses were facing medicine shortages. The ministry cited around 71,000 diabetes patients across Gaza, including approximately 3,500 people with type 1 diabetes who depend on insulin.

The ministry also reported that 81% of primary healthcare centres operated by its services and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) had stopped operating, limiting access to routine consultations, testing and follow-up care.

For diabetic children, the disruption compounds the effects of medication shortages. Managing the condition requires consistent access to insulin, appropriate dosing equipment and testing strips to monitor blood sugar levels and identify dangerous changes before they lead to medical emergencies.

Without those supplies, caregivers may be left making difficult decisions about how to administer treatment while struggling to determine whether it is working.

Restrictions compound Gaza’s medical supply crisis

The shortages come amid ‘Israeli’ restrictions on the entry of goods and medical supplies into Gaza, alongside extensive damage to the territory’s healthcare infrastructure and disruptions to electricity and fuel supplies.

Insulin must be stored under appropriate conditions, making reliable refrigeration and distribution systems essential. Damaged facilities and unstable electricity supplies can further complicate the storage and delivery of temperature-sensitive medicines.

The loss of healthcare services also leaves families with fewer options when children’s blood sugar becomes dangerously high or their prescribed medication is unavailable.

Gaza’s Ministry of Health has called for improved access to essential medicines and medical supplies as the territory struggles to treat patients with chronic conditions.

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