Critical shortage of medicine in Gaza

Hospitals in the Gaza Strip are suffering a critical shortage of medicine and medical supplies, Hamas Health Minister Bassem Naem said late on Saturday. The crisis was unprecedented even during Israel''s massive offensive on Gaza in December 2008, Naem said, adding that the situation was worsening day after day. Speaking at a press conference in Ash-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Naem said 180 types of medicines and 200 medical items had run out in Gaza, including even alcohol and needles. All health facilities were affected by the deficit, the minister said, adding that Israel''s siege on the Gaza Strip exacerbated the crisis. The Gaza health ministry announced a state of emergency in Gaza on Wednesday. On Friday, Naem announced that pre-scheduled surgeries would be canceled, including children''s operations, cardiac catheterization, laparoscopic surgery and bone and nerve operations. He said the ministry would reduce medical services including laboratory tests. An eye hospital in Gaza City reported Saturday that it had canceled 12 surgeries because doctors had run out of medical supplies. In An-Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, the shortage affected 142 patients who could not be given medicine. Sources in the Gaza Health Ministry said Palestinian Authority official Nabil Shaath had promised to send medicines to Gaza from Ramallah, but that the supplies are yet to arrive.