Istanbul / Anadolu

The Ministry of Health in Gaza issued an urgent warning on Thursday of an imminent collapse of cancer treatment services, considering that stopping chemotherapy protocols constitutes a slow death sentence for thousands of patients, including hundreds of children and women.

These warnings come at a time when the Gaza Strip is suffering from a tightened blockade and deterioration of health infrastructure due to repeated conflicts.

The ministry explained that cancer care departments are completely paralyzed due to the depletion of specialized drugs.

It stressed that 'the halt of chemotherapy protocols for cancer patients in Gaza is a slow death sentence for thousands of patients.'

It stressed that the cessation of doses not only delays treatment, but causes tumors to return quickly and aggressively, threatening the lives of thousands of patients.

It added that many cancer patients are living in harsh humanitarian conditions, suffering severe pain without access to treatment or even basic painkillers, while their travel to receive treatment outside the sector remains impossible.

The ministry called on the competent authorities to urgently intervene to provide immediate drug shipments, warning of an escalating health disaster if the treatment interruption continues.

These warnings coincide with the worsening crisis of patient treatment in the Gaza Strip.

On July 3, the director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, Muhammad Abu Salmiya, told Anadolu that more than 22,000 patients need treatment outside the sector.

He pointed out that only about 30 patients are allowed to exit during the irregular openings of the Rafah crossing, considering that this number 'does not meet the minimum needs.'

Abu Salmiya added that about 1,500 patients have died while waiting for permission to travel for treatment, while the sector loses between 3 and 4 cancer patients daily, in addition to one or two dialysis patients.

The health sector in Gaza is suffering a severe collapse due to the genocide being committed by Israel against Palestinians since October 8, 2023.

Tel Aviv deliberately destroyed hospitals and health facilities, blocked medicines, medical supplies, and fuel, leading to a significant decline in the ability of health facilities to provide treatment services, especially for cancer and chronic disease patients.

The director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex had revealed that more than 22,000 patients need to travel for treatment, but only 30 are allowed per day. He pointed to the death of 1,500 patients while waiting, while the sector loses 3-4 cancer patients daily in addition to one or two dialysis patients. This confirms the deterioration of the health situation in Gaza, where essential medicines are unavailable. The health system faces near-total collapse under the ongoing blockade and shortage of supplies.