Feb 9, 2008

GAZA, (PIC)-- Palestinian medical sources warned Saturday that medicines in hospitals and health centers will soon run out of stock as a result of the ongoing Israeli siege imposed on Gaza for eight months, pointing out that IOA bars the entry of many types of important medicines.

In a press release, the medical sources stated that many operating rooms and intensive care units may be forced to close soon because of the acute shortage of medicines which in turn could lead to a health catastrophe threatening the lives of tens of Palestinian patients.

The sources added that a multitude of medical appliances were rendered out of order due to serious shortage of spare parts which led to a decrease in the quality of health services and dozens of delayed surgical operations.

According to the sources, some sections at the Shifa medical complex stopped working normally as nine dialysis machines out of 30 were no longer operational which reflected negatively on kidney patients who wait long hours for their turn to come.

In a related context, other Palestinian medical sources announced on Friday the death of a Palestinian patient called Munir Mukherez, 49, as a result of the Israeli siege and inability to travel abroad for treatment, thus raising the siege death toll to 91 victims.