On September 17, World Patient Safety Day aims to raise global awareness about the importance of patient safety in healthcare. In Palestine, this year’s focus is mainly affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis due to the Israel’s war on Gaza and military operations in the West Bank. In this context, primary concerns for patient safety are about ensuring access to basic medical care and protecting health infrastructure from damage or restoring its functionality as fast as possible after attacks.
Gaza’s healthcare system is on the brink of collapse due to the blockade and repeated Israeli attacks against health facilities, staff and vehicles. With more than 100,000 casualties as reported by OCHA, the healthcare system is overwhelmed by the massive loads of patients, far exceeding its capacity. According to OCHA, health facilities are severely compromised, with 58% of hospitals non-functional, and those still operating are at 359% capacity. 885 health care workers have been killed since October 2023 according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, which increases the workload on those remaining. Constant attacks on healthcare facilities have severely affected the ability to treat patients, whether they are injured in the conflict or suffering from chronic illnesses. In addition, medical staff are operating under extreme conditions, with hospitals suffering from a lack of electricity, clean water, and adequate sanitation. This has increased the risk of infections, such as sepsis, which is responsible for high mortality rates in conflict zones. For the first time in 25 years, a case of polio has been confirmed and a vast vaccination campaign has been launched in an attempt to vaccinate more than 600,000 children at risk of developing the disease in the Gaza Strip. Around 995,000 cases of acute respiratory infections have been recorded, 577,000 cases of acute watery diarrhea, and 107,000 cases of acute jaundice symptoms. Famine and chronic acute malnutrition increase greatly the risks of diseases and infections.
The war on Gaza has also significantly worsened the situation for patients with chronic diseases, who already faced limited access to healthcare. Before the conflict, around 50% of the population in Gaza depended on the public health system for managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Since October 7, the situation has deteriorated further.
The blockade on Gaza has critically worsened the healthcare crisis by preventing patients with severe injuries and chronic illnesses from leaving the strip for essential medical treatments. According to HRW, before the war, over 2,000 patients were referred annually for specialized care, such as cancer therapies and heart surgeries, which are unavailable locally. However, the ongoing closure of border crossings has trapped thousands of critically injured patients in Gaza’s overwhelmed hospitals, which face severe shortages of specialized care and essential medications. Only 41% of critically injured patients had their requests for evacuation approved, and only 35% have actually been evacuated. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reports that 30% of necessary medications for chronic diseases are now inaccessible, leading to an alarming rise in preventable deaths. The combination of war-related destruction and the blockade has plunged Gaza’s healthcare system into a dire humanitarian crisis.
On the other hand, Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons are facing severe neglect in terms of healthcare, with many being denied proper medical treatment, leading to preventable deaths. Reports indicates that prisoners with chronic illnesses or injuries are often left without timely access to hospitals or specialized care, exacerbating their health conditions. This denial of care violates basic human rights and international laws on the treatment of prisoners. On World Patient Safety Day, which emphasizes the importance of safety and access to healthcare for all, it is crucial to highlight the situation of these prisoners. The lack of suitable medical care in prisons directly contravenes the global principles of patient safety and human dignity.
DWRC stands in solidarity with healthcare staff, patients and their families, and strongly condemns the attacks on the Palestinian healthcare system and devastation that has left hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians, including vulnerable patients, without access to essential healthcare. As an organization dedicated to upholding human rights and social justice, we are deeply concerned about the severe impact this conflict has had on Gaza’s already fragile healthcare system, especially on the safety and well-being of patients, as well as the rapid deterioration of access to healthcare in the West Bank due to repeated attacks against medical facilities and vehicles, and isolation of communities.
On World Patient Safety Day, we stress that patient safety is not just about medical care, but also about the protection of essential human rights, including access to life-saving treatment and healthcare during times of war and conflict as guaranteed by the most fundamental rules of international humanitarian law. We call for immediate international action to protect the rights and safety of Gaza’s civilians, particularly patients whose lives depend on consistent medical care. We urge for the lifting of the blockade to allow the evacuation of casualties and access to medical supplies. On this day of global awareness, we would like to emphasize that the right to health is a fundamental human right that must be defended for all.
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