Gaza Health Sector faces imminent collapse amid severe Oxygen, medical supply shortages

GAZA, Aug. 17 (YPA) – The Ministry of Health in Gaza warned on Monday of catastrophic consequences facing the lives of patients and the wounded due to the breakdown of most oxygen generation plants in the Strip’s hospitals, caused by the Israeli occupation side’s restriction on the entry of spare parts and maintenance supplies.

Medical sources reported that the crisis directly affects 72 intensive care units (ICUs), 54 neonatal and premature care units, and 19 pediatric care units.

The sources noted that only 12 out of 34 oxygen plants are currently operational, while cylinder-filling devices have been reduced to 4 out of 30, threatening a complete halt to supplies as operational plants are being strained beyond their capacity.

Hospitals are also experiencing a severe depletion of pharmaceutical stocks and medical supplies. Depletion rates have reached 47% for essential medications, 87% for laboratory testing supplies, and 59% for medical consumables. Meanwhile, hospital bed occupancy rates have exceeded 130%, with 26 out of 38 hospitals rendered out of service.

The Ministry appealed to the international community and human rights organizations to exert urgent pressure to open the border crossings and facilitate the delivery of fuel, spare parts, and medical equipment to prevent a total collapse of the healthcare system in the Gaza Strip.

YPA