Gaza Health Ministry warns of critical shortage of blood bank supplies

Gaza is facing severe shortages of laboratory materials and blood bank supplies, the Palestinian Ministry of Health has said in a press release. 

The enclave's health ministry has warned that many essential supplies for medical tests are running out or have already been exhausted.

More than half of laboratory consumables and supplies are also expected to run out within weeks, the ministry said, adding that 49 percent of laboratory testing materials are out of stock, while 60.3 percent of the remaining basic materials will last less than a month.

Materials needed to test drug levels for kidney and liver transplant patients have run out, while the testing materials for complete blood counts are “sufficient for only a limited number of days”.

Supplies for viral blood testing are also expected to last only days "raising a risk of unsafe blood transfusions”.

The statement added that around 45 percent of laboratory equipment has been damaged or destroyed by Israel, and there is an urgent need for maintenance and spare parts.