(Adnkronos) – Three cancer patients die on average every day in the Strip due to complications of the disease and lack of essential care, as thousands of patients cannot leave the enclave for diagnosis or treatment abroad. This was reported by the Gaza Ministry of Health. Mohammed Abu Nada, medical director of the Gaza Oncology Center, explained that approximately 4,000 cancer patients with official prescriptions for treatments or diagnostic procedures outside Gaza are unable to leave due to restrictions and border closures.
Abu Nada stated that Gaza’s healthcare system is facing severe shortages of cancer treatments and supportive care, including a lack of radiotherapy services and a 61% deficit in chemotherapy drugs. He added that the destruction of specialized treatment centers and the absence of available options have forced medical teams to make increasingly difficult decisions, including performing complete mastectomies in some cases of early-stage breast cancer when less invasive treatment options are not available.
The Ministry of Health’s data has not been independently verified. Israel has stated that restrictions on movement and aid to Gaza are linked to security considerations and efforts to prevent Hamas from exploiting humanitarian channels.
