The Ministry of Health said that 180 hemophilia patients in the Gaza Strip, out of a total of 550 patients in Palestine, are suffering from a severe shortage of essential medicines.

In a statement issued Thursday on the occasion of World Hemophilia Day, the ministry explained that the lack of medication for these patients increases the risk of serious complications such as internal bleeding in the joints and muscles, which could lead to permanent physical disabilities. The ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip has exacerbated the need to provide the necessary medications and treatments to ensure a dignified life for them and enable them to lead their daily lives safely.

She pointed out that more than a year and a half after the aggression, its repercussions continue to affect thousands of sick people among our people, including hemophilia patients who face unprecedented challenges in obtaining the necessary healthcare.

Hemophilia is a bleeding disorder that prevents blood from clotting properly. People with hemophilia bleed longer than normal people because their blood doesn't contain enough clotting factors. Clotting factors are proteins in the blood that help control bleeding. It's a rare genetic disorder that affects 1 in 10,000 people worldwide.

The Ministry noted that through projects funded by donors and the World Federation of Hemophilia, patients are provided with the necessary medications, access to comprehensive treatment and care is improved, and services are being enhanced with a focus on home and preventative treatment to control and prevent recurrent bleeding episodes, thus preventing joint disabilities.

She added that the Palestine Future Foundation, a partner of the Ministry of Health in this field, provides health, social, and educational services to hemophilia patients and has been able to provide support to patients in Gaza through its funding partners. The foundation has also succeeded in securing large quantities of medicines through donations from the World Federation of Hemophilia in Canada, of which Palestine is an official member, in addition to valuable contributions from the Italian Society of Hematology, a long-standing partner in supporting healthcare projects.

It's worth noting that the Ministry of Health is working this year to establish five specialized centers for the treatment of hemophilia patients, with the aim of institutionalizing treatment for them. These centers will be distributed throughout the northern and southern governorates of the country, operating within the concept of comprehensive healthcare and localizing medical services.