The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip warned on Thursday, July 9, of the imminent collapse of laboratories and blood banks due to a severe shortage of testing materials and essential supplies. This shortage is a direct result of Israeli restrictions on the entry of medical supplies into the Strip, coinciding with the ongoing catastrophic consequences of the genocide in Gaza.
Sahar Ghanem, Director of the Laboratories and Blood Banks Unit at the Ministry of Health, stated that the shortage of laboratory testing materials has reached 87%, while the deficit in essential supplies needed for laboratory and diagnostic tests has reached 74%.
She added that this shortage puts laboratories and blood banks at risk of complete shutdown and threatens their ability to provide testing and diagnostic services to Palestinians, particularly patients and the wounded who require continuous medical monitoring.
Ghanem explained that the crisis has affected fundamental aspects of laboratory work. Blood gas analysis has completely ceased, and complete blood count (CBC) tests are at risk of being suspended within a few days.
Essential chemical tests for various medical departments are also at risk of being paralyzed due to a severe shortage of sample collection tubes and basic equipment, coupled with frequent breakdowns of outdated laboratory equipment and a lack of resources for its maintenance and operation.
The Ministry of Health has called on international and relevant organizations to intervene urgently to provide the necessary medical and laboratory supplies and ensure the continued operation of laboratories and blood banks. It warned that if the shortages persist at their current levels, vital services will cease and the health and humanitarian situation in the sector will deteriorate further.
