Gaza - Saba:
The Ministry of Health in Gaza warned of an imminent crisis in medical laboratory services and blood banks, due to the severe shortage of laboratory supplies and basic testing materials in Gaza. Blood banks are also suffering from a severe shortage of supplies and a shortage of blood units.
According to SAFA News Agency, Sahar Ghanem, Director of the Laboratories Department at the Ministry of Health in Gaza, said on Sunday that the percentage of laboratory testing materials with less than a month's supply has reached 48.7%, while the percentage of laboratory consumables and supplies with less than a month's supply has reached 48.2%.
Ghanem stated that this sharp decline directly threatens the continuity of laboratory diagnostic and blood transfusion services, at a time when the Gaza Strip is facing a health catastrophe with rising numbers of wounded and a deteriorating humanitarian situation.
She explained: "The enemy is deliberately destroying laboratory equipment within health facilities, crippling the ability of the health system and medical personnel to diagnose patients and the wounded. The destruction rate of hospital laboratories has reached approximately 50%, while the destruction rate of primary care laboratories has reached approximately 60%." She noted that 514 laboratory devices are out of service.
The medical official also called on international and humanitarian organizations to take urgent action to provide the necessary support and ensure the continued operation of laboratories and blood banks, thus helping to preserve the minimum basic medical services for patients and the wounded in the Gaza Strip.