Gaza hospitals face 'unprecedented' medicine shortages, health ministry warns

Hospitals and medical centres in Gaza are facing “dangerous and unprecedented” shortages of essential medicines as Israel’s blockade continues, Gaza’s Health Ministry warned, according to Al Jazeera.

The ministry said 37 percent of essential drugs and 59 percent of medical supplies are completely out of stock, along with 54 percent of cancer and blood disease medications.

Emergency, surgery, and intensive care units are operating with severely depleted life-saving treatments. Around 80,000 diabetic patients and 110,000 with high blood pressure are no longer receiving care.

The ministry said Israel's siege that cut off Gaza from food, fuel and medicine, among other vital supplies, is worsening the crisis and creating “catastrophic” challenges for treating patients and the wounded.