Urgent International Intervention Required: Health Sector Faces Severe Medication Crisis

SadaNews - Last week, during a field visit, Minister of Health Dr. Majed Abu Ramadan held consecutive meetings with relevant departments within the crisis cell led by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Wael Al-Sheikh, which includes the General Directorate of Pharmacy, the General Directorate of Financial Affairs, the General Directorate of Central Warehouses, and the General Directorate of Hospitals, to discuss the reality of medication and medical supplies availability amid the worsening financial crisis and the significant pressure on the health sector.

The ministry confirmed in a statement issued today, Saturday, that the current crisis has begun to affect various components of the health sector in the West Bank, including government, private, and charitable hospitals, as well as suppliers of medications and medical supplies due to accumulated debts and irregular payments.

It noted that hundreds of types of life-saving drugs and vital medical supplies have reached critical depletion levels, including life-saving medications, cancer treatments, and dialysis drugs, which directly threatens the continuity of health services.

Minister of Health emphasized that the crisis cell continues its intensive and field work around the clock to closely monitor the medication situation, prepare a detailed comprehensive report to assess the scale of risks and urgent needs, and formulate possible emergency solutions to ensure the continuity of health services.

The ministry warned that the persistence of the crisis, amid reduced working hours and strikes, exacerbates the state of exhaustion witnessed by the health sector and threatens the continued provision of essential medical care.

The Ministry of Health called on the international community, humanitarian organizations, and human rights entities to urgently intervene to ensure the entry of medications and medical supplies, and to prevent the collapse of the health system in the West Bank, emphasizing that targeting the financial resources of the Palestinian people constitutes collective punishment that affects the fundamental right to treatment and life.

In this context, the Minister of Health praised the significant efforts exerted by the Palestinian government, led by Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mustafa, especially the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance, in intensive work to mobilize international support to mitigate the crisis and attempt to contain it.

The ministry concluded its statement by asserting that the continued prevention of the Palestinian people's funds directly affects patients' lives, threatens the right to medical treatment, and necessitates urgent and responsible international intervention to save the health system from collapse.