The healthcare system in Gaza is going through a severe crisis. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that more than 18,500 patients are in need of specialized medical care, but such facilities are currently not available in Gaza. Due to ongoing attacks and limited resources, the situation continues to worsen.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on the social media platform X that, with the help of WHO and its partners, five patients and seven accompanying family members were transferred to Egypt via the Rafah crossing on Monday. He noted that this was the first medical evacuation since March 2025, clearly highlighting the seriousness of the situation.
Dr. Tedros said that after more than two years of continuous attacks, it has become extremely important to reduce reliance on medical evacuations in Gaza. For this, he emphasized the urgent need for rehabilitation and reconstruction.
He warned that unless the supply of medical materials is increased, damaged health facilities are repaired, and essential services are expanded, it will not be possible to build a strong and sustainable healthcare system in Gaza.
The WHO chief also called for the immediate reopening of medical referral routes to the West Bank and East Jerusalem, so that critically ill patients can gain timely access to life-saving treatment.
The terrifying picture of this crisis becomes even clearer from the statement of Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, Director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex. He said that specialist medical committees are prioritizing patients based on the severity of their condition. According to him, around 450 patients are in extremely critical condition, and due to delays in transferring them out of Gaza for treatment, deaths are occurring almost daily.
This crisis in Gaza is not just a story of statistics, but the reality of thousands of lives that are still counting their breaths in the hope of receiving treatment.