Thousands Of Palestinian Patients At Risk Due To Medical Shortages

RAMALLAH, June 4, 2026 (NNN-WAFA) -- The Palestinian Ministry of Health has warned of the rapidly worsening shortage of medicines, laboratory supplies and medical consumables, stressing that more than one-third of the medicines included on the Essential Medicines List have reached zero stock levels, while hundreds of other items have fallen below emergency reorder thresholds.

Palestine News and Info Agency (WAFA) reported the Ministry emphasised that the lives of more than 4,000 cancer patients and thousands of dialysis patients are under threat due to critical medication shortages.

The Ministry affirmed that the Palestinian government is making intensive, round-the-clock efforts to prevent the collapse of health services despite unprecedented financial challenges. These efforts include maximising the efficiency of available resources, prioritising urgent and essential healthcare needs, and securing as many medicines, medical supplies, and healthcare services as possible to ensure the continuity of care for citizens.

At the same time, the Ministry appealed to the international community, United Nations agencies, humanitarian organisations, and friendly and sister countries to intervene urgently by exerting pressure for the release of withheld Palestinian clearance revenues and by providing the necessary support to the Palestinian health sector.

Such action is needed to prevent the collapse of essential healthcare services and the serious humanitarian consequences that would affect thousands of patients, particularly those suffering from chronic illnesses, cancer, kidney failure, and other critical conditions.

The Ministry also called for Israel, the occupying power, to fulfil its responsibilities under international law and the obligations imposed on an occupying power towards a population living under occupation.

According to the Ministry's data, the financial crisis has significantly weakened the government's ability to meet its financial obligations to pharmaceutical suppliers.

This situation stems from the complete withholding of Palestinian tax revenues (clearance revenues) for the past 15 months.

These revenues account for approximately 68 per cent of the Ministry of Finance's income, resulting in delayed or suspended pharmaceutical deliveries, severe shortages of medicines for chronic diseases, cancer treatment, and intensive care, as well as disruptions to the strategic balance of medicine stocks.

Approximately 180 medicines from the Essential Medicines List have reached zero stock levels, out of a total of 520 essential medicines supplied by the Ministry. Regarding oncology medicines, 50 out of the 97 cancer treatment drugs provided by the Ministry have reached zero stock.

Central warehouses have recorded severe shortages of several critical specialised medical consumables, most notably dialysis filters, which are indispensable for dialysis treatment sessions.

A severe shortage has also been reported in surgical sutures, particularly the specialised varieties used in delicate procedures such as cardiac surgery and other highly specialised operations. This has affected the operational readiness of surgical theatres. In addition, shortages of cardiac catheterisation supplies, including catheters and stents, have resulted in the postponement of certain interventional procedures.

Data from laboratory supply warehouses indicate a growing number of critical shortages and zero-stock items, reflecting a persistent gap between supply and consumption.

The number of laboratory supply items that have reached zero stock in the West Bank stands at 79.

The Ministry reported that 265 specialised medical consumables have reached zero stock levels.

According to the Ministry's data, approximately 65,000 major and minor surgeries were performed in the governmental hospitals during 2025. Between January 1 and June 1, 2026, approximately 19,500 surgical procedures were carried out.

At the same time, the number of scheduled surgeries that have been postponed due to shortages of medical supplies and labour strikes has exceeded 11,000 operations. The growing shortages of medical consumables, surgical sutures, and essential surgical materials, combined with the effects of the severe financial crisis, reduced working hours, and labour actions, have directly affected hospital operating capacity and delayed patients' access to needed surgical services.

In addition, tens of thousands of patients with chronic illnesses and other healthcare needs have been deprived of access to primary healthcare services and specialised outpatient clinics in the governmental hospitals.

The Ministry pointed out that the current crisis coincides with the ongoing humanitarian and health catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, where healthcare facilities are facing severe shortages of medicines, medical consumables, fuel, and life-saving supplies. This is occurring amid widespread destruction of hospitals and healthcare centres and the continued exhaustion of medical personnel.

The Ministry stressed that healthcare needs in the Gaza Strip are increasing at an unprecedented rate while the healthcare system suffers from acute shortages of resources and capabilities. This significantly increases the burden on Palestinian healthcare institutions and underscores the need for urgent international action to ensure the uninterrupted and sustainable flow of medical and humanitarian supplies.

The Ministry further explained that the worsening financial crisis and the growing debt owed by the Ministry of Health are placing substantial financial pressure on pharmaceutical companies, suppliers, and healthcare service providers, directly affecting their ability to continue supplying medicines and delivering services.

--NNN-WAFA