Gaza health system overwhelmed as hospitals hit record occupancy

The Gaza Strip's Ministry of Health reported unprecedented occupancy rates in hospitals and medical centers during the first half of the year. Emergency services treated 997,844 patients, outpatient clinics logged 826,060 visits, and 111,378 admissions filled hospital beds.

Medical teams performed 57,112 complex and emergency surgeries and 760 life‑saving cardiac catheterisations, while distributing 32,186 units of blood. However, the health system is collapsing: 26 of the 38 hospitals are out of service, basic medicines are in shortage by more than 50%, medical supplies by 70%, and laboratory reagents by over 87%, jeopardising thousands of patients.

The UN and medical NGOs have issued urgent warnings as the lack of resources threatens the lives of civilians dependent on the overstretched facilities.