120 medicines out of stock in Gaza

The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza warned that the shortage in medicine and medical supplies was still plaguing hospitals and primary care clinics in the coastal enclave.

Dr. Munir Al-Barsh, the director of the general administration for pharmaceuticals, said on Sunday in a report detailing the conditions in the ministry’s stores in September that 120 types of medicines were out of stock along with 150 medical consumables. He warned that 76 other types of medicines and 75 of medical consumables were expected to run out of stock within the three coming months.

A number of vital wards in the hospitals were threatened with closure due to the acute shortage in medical supplies, he underlined, adding that the ministry was trying to maintain work at all wards even at the minimal degree.

Barsh reiterated calls on the human rights groups and medical societies to provide the required supplies at regular pace and not to be content with temporary solutions.