RAMALLAH, June 4, 2026 (WAFA) –The Ministry of Health has warned of the rapidly worsening shortage of medicines, laboratory supplies, and medical consumables, stressing that more than one-third of the medicines included on the Essential Medicines List have reached zero stock levels, while hundreds of other items have fallen below emergency reorder thresholds.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry emphasized that the lives of more than 4,000 cancer patients and thousands of dialysis patients are under threat due to critical medication shortages.
Continuous Government Efforts and an Urgent International Appeal
The Ministry affirmed that the Palestinian government is making intensive, round-the-clock efforts to prevent the collapse of health services despite unprecedented financial challenges. These efforts include maximizing the efficiency of available resources, prioritizing urgent and essential healthcare needs, and securing as many medicines, medical supplies, and healthcare services as possible to ensure the continuity of care for citizens.
At the same time, the Ministry appealed to the international community, United Nations agencies, humanitarian organizations, and friendly and sister countries to intervene urgently by exerting pressure for the release of withheld Palestinian clearance revenues and by providing the necessary support to the Palestinian health sector. Such action is needed to prevent the collapse of essential healthcare services and the serious humanitarian consequences that would affect thousands of patients, particularly those suffering from chronic illnesses, cancer, kidney failure, and other critical conditions.
The Ministry also called for Israel, the occupying power, to fulfill its responsibilities under international law and the obligations imposed on an occupying power toward a population living under occupation.
Shortages of Cancer Medications
According to the Ministry's data, the financial crisis has significantly weakened the government's ability to meet its financial obligations to pharmaceutical suppliers. This situation stems from the complete withholding of Palestinian tax revenues (clearance revenues) for the past 15 months. These revenues account for approximately 68% of the Ministry of Finance's income, resulting in delayed or suspended pharmaceutical deliveries, severe shortages of medicines for chronic diseases, cancer treatment, and intensive care, as well as disruptions to the strategic balance of medicine stocks.
Approximately 180 medicines from the Essential Medicines List have reached zero stock levels, out of a total of 520 essential medicines supplied by the Ministry. Regarding oncology medicines, 50 out of the 97 cancer treatment drugs provided by the Ministry have reached zero stock.
Shortages of Dialysis Filters and Surgical Sutures
Central warehouses have recorded severe shortages of several critical specialized medical consumables, most notably dialysis filters, which are indispensable for dialysis treatment sessions.
A severe shortage has also been reported in surgical sutures, particularly the specialized varieties used in delicate procedures such as cardiac surgery and other highly specialized operations. This has affected the operational readiness of surgical theaters. In addition, shortages of cardiac catheterization supplies, including catheters and stents, have resulted in the postponement of certain interventional procedures.
79 Laboratory Items at Zero Stock
Data from laboratory supply warehouses indicate a growing number of critical shortages and zero-stock items, reflecting a persistent gap between supply and consumption.
The number of laboratory supply items that have reached zero stock in the West Bank stands at 79.
265 Specialized Medical Consumables at Zero Stock
The Ministry reported that 265 specialized medical consumables have reached zero stock levels.
Postponed Surgical Operations
According to the Ministry's data, approximately 65,000 major and minor surgeries were performed in the governmental hospitals during 2025. Between January 1 and June 1, 2026, approximately 19,500 surgical procedures were carried out.
At the same time, the number of scheduled surgeries that have been postponed due to shortages of medical supplies and labor strikes has exceeded 11,000 operations. The growing shortages of medical consumables, surgical sutures, and essential surgical materials, combined with the effects of the severe financial crisis, reduced working hours, and labor actions, have directly affected hospital operating capacity and delayed patients' access to needed surgical services.
In addition, tens of thousands of patients with chronic illnesses and other healthcare needs have been deprived of access to primary healthcare services and specialized outpatient clinics in the governmental hospitals.
Catastrophic Health Conditions in the Gaza Strip
The Ministry pointed out that the current crisis coincides with the ongoing humanitarian and health catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, where healthcare facilities are facing severe shortages of medicines, medical consumables, fuel, and life-saving supplies. This is occurring amid widespread destruction of hospitals and healthcare centers and the continued exhaustion of medical personnel.
The Ministry stressed that healthcare needs in the Gaza Strip are increasing at an unprecedented rate while the healthcare system suffers from acute shortages of resources and capabilities. This significantly increases the burden on Palestinian healthcare institutions and underscores the need for urgent international action to ensure the uninterrupted and sustainable flow of medical and humanitarian supplies.
Mounting Debt Places Pressure on Suppliers and Service Providers
The Ministry further explained that the worsening financial crisis and the growing debt owed by the Ministry of Health are placing substantial financial pressure on pharmaceutical companies, suppliers, and healthcare service providers, directly affecting their ability to continue supplying medicines and delivering services.
The Ministry's accumulated debt has reached NIS 3.8 billion, including NIS 1.3 billion owed to suppliers of medicines and medical consumables.
The Ministry emphasized that suppliers and pharmaceutical companies are essential partners in sustaining the Palestinian healthcare system. However, the prolonged financial crisis has placed these institutions under severe financial strain, disrupting medical supply chains and affecting the healthcare sector as a whole, while making it increasingly difficult to maintain strategic reserves of medicines and medical consumables.
The Ministry reiterated that the continued withholding of Palestinian clearance revenues threatens not only the government's ability to meet its financial obligations but also the stability and sustainability of the entire healthcare sector, including national institutions and companies that partner in delivering healthcare services to citizens.
Urgent Appeal to Donors and the International Community
The Ministry of Health called on donors and the international community to urgently intervene to provide life-saving medicines (valued at approximately USD 50 million), sufficient to cover one year's needs. It also requested an additional USD 50 million for other critically important medicines, as well as support for the procurement of other required medicines and medical consumables to ensure the continued delivery of healthcare services.
The Ministry further appealed for substantial and immediate financial support to cover staff salaries, which amount to approximately NIS 60 million per month. It also called for emergency assistance to support pharmaceutical companies and healthcare service providers in the non-governmental and private sectors, as well as contributions toward settling arrears owed to private-sector partners, in order to preserve the healthcare system, prevent its collapse, and ensure the continuity of healthcare services.
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