Brief
Gaza Hospitals Struggle as Lab Equipment Fails Amid War
Laboratory shortages at Al‑Aqsa Martyrs Hospital are forcing doctors to triage patients and seek private labs for essential tests.
By Felo News Desk · Published
At Al‑Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza, laboratory director Bassem Hassan reports that shortages of blood‑gas testing, blood‑collection tubes and automated analysers have left doctors unable to confirm diagnoses for many patients. The war’s third anniversary has seen more than three‑quarters of imaging equipment out of service, with laboratory testing materials down 87 % and consumables at a 74 % deficit.
Hassan said the hospital prioritises tests for kidney, cancer, heart and intensive‑care patients, but doctors still need results to determine medication dosages and monitor treatment responses. Without them, critical decisions may be delayed or incorrect, potentially affecting patient survival.
Marwan Al‑Azaiza, head of cardiology, noted that some patients are being sent to private labs if they can afford the extra cost, while others rely on clinical examinations and electrocardiograms as incomplete substitutes.
The Ministry of Health warns that continued breakdowns could lead to the shutdown of blood banks and laboratories, jeopardising care for patients with electrolyte imbalances, high potassium levels, impaired kidney function and heart disease.
Key facts
- More than 75% of medical imaging equipment in Gaza is out of service (aljazeera.com)
- Laboratory testing materials are 87% short (aljazeera.com)
- Automated clinical chemistry analysers have stopped operating (aljazeera.com)
- Doctors prioritise kidney, cancer, heart and intensive‑care patients for testing (aljazeera.com)
- Some patients are sent to private labs if they can afford it (aljazeera.com)
Background
The war’s prolonged siege has damaged Gaza’s medical infrastructure, leading to shortages of essential supplies and equipment. Earlier this month, UN and WFP teams began clearing rubble in Gaza City, a task hampered by equipment shortages and unexploded ordnance. A building collapse in western Gaza City on 16 September trapped six families, highlighting the ongoing risk to civilian structures.
Why it matters
The shortage of laboratory supplies threatens to compromise diagnosis and treatment for patients with life‑threatening conditions, potentially increasing mortality in an already strained healthcare system.
What happens next
No immediate steps announced; the Ministry of Health continues to monitor equipment functionality and supply chains.
Sources
- [1] aljazeera.com — originally reported as “Gaza doctors face tough decisions as patients face long waits for diagnoses”
