The Gaza Health Ministry said on Monday that medicines for cancer and blood diseases top the list of drug shortages, with a deficit of 61%, putting the lives of cancer patients at imminent risk as their treatment protocols come to a halt.

In a statement, the ministry said the overall medicine shortage had reached 47%, while the shortage of medical consumables stood at 58%. The shortage of laboratory testing materials has risen to 85%, threatening an almost complete halt to the most essential diagnostic and treatment services.

The ministry said statistical indicators show that other vital health sectors are also being deprived of the basic supplies needed to continue operating. Shortages have reached 56% in maternal and child health medicines, 55% in primary health care, 46% in kidney and dialysis services, 35% in mental health and neurology, 33% in emergency and intensive care, 39% in surgical supplies and 47% in orthopedic supplies.

It warned that the severe shortage of basic tests directly affects the ability of medical teams to save lives.

The ministry said the shortage has severely affected essential laboratory testing supplies, especially complete blood count tests, blood gas tests and clinical chemistry tests. These are urgent daily tests used to assess patients and the wounded in intensive care units and operating rooms.

The Health Ministry renewed its call for international, UN and humanitarian organizations to intervene immediately and urgently to allow the entry of medicines, medical consumables and laboratory testing materials to prevent the catastrophe from worsening.

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