Our team in Gaza has worked there for many years and has witnessed first-hand the impact the blockade has had on the health of the local population.  Numerous medical treatments are currently unavailable both inside the Gaza Strip, because of the blockade and the resulting shortages, and outside the Strip because referring patients abroad remains problematic due to restrictions on movements into and out of Gaza. During 2009, 27 people died after having been refused the chance of medical care outside the country (1).

In addition, lengthy power cuts of between 6 and 12 hours a day considerably disrupt the running of hospitals, this affects the use of essential medical equipment and refrigerating vaccines.  Certain types of medical equipment remain out of use in public health centres. Between 15 and 20% of essential medicines are regularly out of stock (2). This is the case for the drugs needed to treat chronic illnesses, for neonatal care and for treating cancer. A member of the team in Palestine explains: "if these medicines should become available, you have to go to private medical centres to buy them. They're sold at too high a price for the majority of people in Gaza".

The blockade also affects human medical resources.  It is impossible to access good quality medical training inside or outside the Gaza Strip.  Doctors in Gaza cannot benefit from appropriate continuing professional development, particularly in cardiovascular surgery, orthopaedic surgery, paediatrics and neurosurgery.

In view of this continuing lack of resources, Doctors of the World calls for the lifting of the Gaza blockade in order to improve the living conditions and health of its inhabitants in the long-term.

(1) Source: World Health Organisation, WHO monthly report

(2) Source: World Health Organisation, June 2010