Gaza faces catastrophic lab supply shortages

GAZA, Jan. 07 (YPA) – The Gaza-based Ministry of Health warned on Wednesday of the aggravation of a catastrophic crisis as a result of the acute shortage of laboratory consumables, which seriously affects the ability of the health system to provide medical care to patients.

In a news statement, the ministry explained that 75 percent of the materials for biochemical tests are no longer available, while about 90 percent of the stocks of materials for tests and blood transfusions have been depleted, forcing the suspension of a wide range of basic diagnostic services.

The statement pointed out that examinations for endocrine, oncological and kidney transplant patients, as well as blood salts and mass blood tests (CBC), have been completely stopped.

It clarified 72 percent of the materials for the examination of bacterial cultures have become unavailable, warning that the continuation of this situation portends an aggravation of the crisis to a level that may hinder the diagnosis of patients and the conduct of surgical operations.

The statement called on the concerned authorities and international institutions to intervene urgently to provide laboratory consumables and strengthen the balances of laboratories and blood banks, in order to avoid the collapse of the remaining health services.

The health system in the Strip is experiencing an extremely difficult reality, in light of the acute shortage of medicines and medical supplies, which has led to a widespread decline in the level of services and limited to life-saving interventions only.

It is worth noting that the Israeli occupation has been waging a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, spanning nearly two years, resulting in the killing of more than 71,000 Palestinians and the injury of over 171,000 others, in addition to the destruction of approximately 90 percent of the Strip’s infrastructure.

The United Nations has estimated the cost of reconstruction at around 70 billion US dollars.

AA