Imminent Collapse of Medical Laboratories in Gaza: 86% of Test Materials Out of Service

Health authorities in the Gaza Strip have issued severe warnings regarding the accelerating collapse of the medical system, confirming that 86% of essential laboratory test materials are completely unavailable. This acute shortage has led to a near-complete halt of vital diagnostic services, putting the lives of thousands of injured and sick people at risk amid the ongoing strict Israeli siege and the cessation of medical supply flow through the crossings.

Medical sources explained that the shortage is no longer limited to luxuries, but has extended to routine and emergency tests such as comprehensive blood tests, and the detection of infectious and chronic diseases. The sources indicated that the absence of these tests means the doctor loses their treatment compass, as accurate medical decisions cannot be made without laboratory results clarifying the patient's condition and their response to available medications.

At Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City, medical analysis specialist Rania Al-Helou confirmed that the situation is worsening daily with no signs of an imminent breakthrough. She mentioned that laboratories suffer from a complete deficit in providing blood gas and electrolyte tests and cardiac enzymes, which are elements that intensive care or heart patients cannot survive without regular and accurate monitoring.

This catastrophic crisis's impact extends to the most vulnerable groups, primarily kidney dialysis and cancer patients who require close monitoring. According to medical staff, many cases have begun to deteriorate rapidly due to the inability to perform tests that determine chemotherapy protocols or necessary dialysis doses.

For their part, patients in Gaza expressed their despair at the bitter health reality, with one cancer patient stating that she has not been able to undergo any laboratory test for three consecutive months. This tragedy is repeated with hundreds of patients who visit hospitals only to find that potassium, phosphorus, and blood test materials are completely missing, rendering their doctor visits effectively futile.

Field reports indicate that the chances of survival for patients in the Strip are diminishing with every passing hour without the entry of medical supplies, as hospitals have turned into shelters rather than treatment centers. This health crisis is part of the repercussions of the ongoing comprehensive war since October 7th, which has directly and systematically targeted the health sector's infrastructure.

In light of this reality, the Ministry of Health continues to appeal to international and humanitarian organizations for immediate intervention to save what remains of the laboratory system. Specialists warn that the continued loss of test materials will lead to a sharp increase in mortality rates among chronic disease patients, who now face death not only due to illness but due to the absence of simple diagnostic tools.

We are losing patients' lives due to our complete inability to monitor their clinical conditions because of the depletion of the simplest laboratory test materials.