Medical situation in Gaza

As at 28th December 2008 Hospitals in Gaza Strip received about 900 injured patients, of whom 650 were hospitalized. MoH hospitals reported about 115 critical cases, 25 in intensive care units (ICUs) and 90 were operated and admitted to wards. The MoH reported that there is no possibility to evacuate those in critical condition unless they are stabilized first, since the equipment and teams to keep them stable while being transported are not available. The MoH also reported 280 fatalities. The MoH could not provide exact figures disaggregated by age categories. There are 27 hospitals in Gaza;13 are managed by the MoH with a capacity of about 1500 beds. Private and NGO hospitals have about 500 beds. The MoH hospitals were overwhelmed by the initial influx of patients. They switched to emergency mode, discharging non-urgent patients wherever possible (some to NGO hospitals). Emergency and operating rooms are under intense pressure but most have sufficient beds so far. The MoH reported that 105 items from the essential drug list were at zero stock level at the central drug store before the hostilities started. There were also 225 consumable items and 93 laboratory and blood bank items out of stock at the central store. Some of these items are available at facility level but many shortages are reported. The MoH also reported a lack of medical gases needed for operating rooms and laboratories, such as nitrous ethylene oxide and nitrogen. Today, WHO facilitated the entry of these gases to Gaza. Since 25 December, the MoH requested approvals from the Israeli authorities for 21 patients to exit Gaza to seek medical care in Israeli or West Bank hospitals. Only six were allowed to exit on Thursday and one on Friday. The Erez crossing has been closed for patient referrals since and no patients have been referred through Rafah.