The Palestinian Health Ministry is Gaza has reported that 80% of cancer medications in the besieged coastal region have depleted, an issue that poses imminent threats to the lives of the patients.
Dr. Ashraf al-Qedra, the spokesperson of the Health Ministry in Gaza, has reported that the Rantisi specialized hospital, which deals with cancer patients, has run out of the drug, Neupogen, which is essential for the immunity systems of the patients, adding that, starting on Sunday morning (August 12th), all treatments will be suspended.
Dr. al-Qedra added that the lives of hundreds of cancer patients in the Gaza Strip is at a real risk if the current drug crisis is not immediately resolved.
On his part, Dr. Talha Ba’lousha, the head of the Oncology Pharmacy Department at the Rantisi Pediatric Hospital, said all treatments for colon and intestine cancers have been suspended after the main drugs, XELOX, FOLFOX, have run out.
He warned that this poses very serious threats to the lives of cancer patients, who will have to wait for unknown periods until the medications are available, adding that many cancer patients are labeled by Israel as “security threats,” and are not allowed to enter the country for treatment.
“The patients’ conditions do not tolerate waiting until they get the needed medicine, especially since several patients are banned from leaving the Gaza Strip, therefore, they have no option but to wait to be treated in Gaza,” he said, “This poses serious risks to their lives, and causes more pain and grief to them, and their families. How long does this human tragedy and suffering of the patients, and their families have to continue! Who will tell them that the life-saving treatment is not available?”
