More than 400 patients with kidney disease have died in the Gaza Strip since the start of the Israeli aggression war on Oct. 7, 2023, due to severe shortages of treatment and essential medications
Dr. Abdul Qishawi, head of the Gaza-based kidney department, said that the number of kidney patients in the Strip was almost 1,100 before the outbreak of the war, but at least 416 of them have lost their lives in recent months due to the severe shortage of medical resources.
Abdul Qishawi explained that hospitals have been forced to reduce the number of dialysis sessions per patient from three to two per week in an effort to reduce human losses. However, he warned that this practice, if continued, could lead to serious complications due to the accumulation of toxins in patients’ bodies.
He pointed out that the inflow of wounded and displaced persons from conflict zones to hospitals in central and western Gaza has increased the burden on healthcare facilities, resulting in reduced dialysis unit operating hours and overcrowding of patients in extremely difficult conditions.
