Medical Services warns of collapse of health services

Gaza--(MOI) The Brigadier and Director-General at the Medical Services department within the Ministry of Interior in the Gaza Strip, Atef Kahlout, warned about the collapse of health sector clinics and medical services amid the absence of operational budgets. In an exclusive statement for the MOI's website, Kahlout said, "half a million Palestinian citizens receive the service from medical services." However,"There is a severe shortage of drugs and medical supplies which may stop medical services operating". Many drugs categories are out of stock at the medical services stores which negatively impacts patients lives and citizens dependent on medical aid from medical services. Kahlout pointed out that there has been no financial budget for several months. The Directorate has therefore been unable to conduct the necessary repair or maintenance work on medical devices. This threatens the lives of thousands of patients who are in need of these medical devices. The fuel crisis has been detrimental to the ambulance service when the health service is already overburdened by increased suffering. This has negatively impacted service delivery to the patient because of the lack of ambulances mobility. Kahlout also reported dozens of surgeries had been postponed in Directorate hospitals due to severe shortages of fuel. The Medical Services Directorate require a minimum of 60,000 liters of fuel per month to run generators Bospyatea and clinics. Kahlout explained the employees' salaries crisis had left dozens of employees without transport to be able to reach work. Further, the psychological impact on the employees gave patients and reviewers a negative impression. To overcome these crises, Director General of Military Medical Services commended delegations from both Algerian and Tunisian medical staff who had worked alongside the Directorate staff and alleviate patient suffering. The medical delegations conducted about 100 surgeries at Bmhvy military Balsam, northern Gaza Strip and southern Algerian hospital sector in different disciplines. Kahlout appealed to Palestinian Interior Minister d. Rami to intervene to expedite the provision of needs, and medical supplies to the health sector to help patients whose health is deteriorating. He stressed that his Directorate would steadfastly continue to provide medical and health services to serve the citizens and stand by them.