GAZA, (PIC)
A senior medical official in Gaza has warned that the territory’s healthcare system has effectively collapsed, now functioning as a “formal structure without real substance” amid severe shortages and ongoing restrictions.
Bassem Zaqout, director of medical relief services in southern Gaza, said the system is facing unprecedented deterioration, with widespread diagnostic paralysis and growing inability to provide basic care.
He explained that restrictions imposed by the Israeli occupation forces on the entry of medical supplies have reduced the health sector to a minimal system reliant on improvised solutions. While limited basic items are allowed in, critical and specialized equipment remains blocked.
This has led to a near-total collapse in diagnostic capabilities, with the absence of essential tools such as electrocardiogram machines, hormone testing, and early cancer detection equipment.
Zaqout also highlighted a severe drug shortage, including medications for chronic diseases, antibiotics, and cancer treatments, leaving medical teams with limited options and disrupting comprehensive care.
He warned that healthcare workers are now forced to treat patients with incomplete medical pathways, significantly affecting the quality and effectiveness of services.
The crisis is compounded by worsening environmental and living conditions, including shortages of clean water, accumulating waste, and overcrowding in shelters, factors that increase the risk of disease outbreaks that the weakened system is ill-equipped to handle.
In a related warning, Maher Shamieh, a senior official in Gaza’s health ministry, said the destruction of medical facilities and lack of essential services are further worsening the situation and threatening lives.
Health ministry data indicates that more than 1,800 healthcare facilities have been damaged or destroyed since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza in October 2023, with total losses estimated at around $1.4 billion.
These warnings come as Israel’s military operations and the blockade on Gaza continue despite a ceasefire announced in October 2025, with ongoing strikes and casualties reported on a near-daily basis.
