The Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO) issued a paper on the shortage of medicines and medical supplies at Health NGOs, and its implications on their interventions and responses to the needs of patients.

The paper points that Health National Organizations have been suffering from shortage of resources since the imposition of the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip in the last 13 years. However, they continue their work under difficult circumstances, as the financial resources crisis increased during the events of the Great March of Return, and the high number of martyrs and injuries, which consumed the available quantities of drugs and medical consumables. The deteriorating situation has been exacerbated for several reasons, mainly the lack of funding and the increasing need resulting from the high number of injuries during GMR, as stated in the paper.

The issued paper reflects the results of a survey conducted by the PNGO Network in early August 2019 in the Gaza Strip, which included 8 NGOs members at PNGO Health Sector, on the shortage of medicines and medical consumables at National Health NGOs and its impact on patients and target groups. The study concluded that 40% of used medicines are Zero storage in the national health NGOs under study, in addition to 45% of used medicines meet needs of 3 months only. While the total deficit of medical consumables is 55%.

PNGO Network called for ending the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip and provide all medicines and medical supplies immediately, and facilitate the movement of patients, and to accelerate the provision of financial support to health organizations to respond to the patients’ needs and provide the necessary medical services so that protect the right to treatment and the right to health.