Gaza faces worsening drug shortage, cancer patients dying daily

The health system in the Gaza Strip is experiencing a severe shortage of medicines and medical supplies. According to a ministry statement, 61% of the drugs used for cancer and blood disorders are missing, and overall drug availability has fallen to 47%. Laboratory reagents are lacking by up to 85%, crippling basic blood tests and biochemistry analyses.

Oncologists report that about 11,000 cancer patients are at risk, with an estimated three deaths per day from untreated disease. Restrictions on movement imposed by Israeli authorities prevent patients from leaving Gaza for treatment, and the destruction of oncology facilities has halted radiotherapy and chemotherapy services. The director of Gaza's Oncology Center, Dr. Muhammed Ebu Neda, warned that even early‑stage breast‑cancer cases sometimes require mastectomy because other options are unavailable.

International bodies, including the United Nations, have been urged to facilitate the rapid delivery of chemotherapy drugs, medical equipment, and laboratory supplies to Gaza, citing an imminent humanitarian catastrophe.