SAFA - The Palestinian Medical Relief Society in the Gaza Strip has warned of an unprecedented deterioration in the health situation, saying that more than 350,000 patients across the besieged territory urgently need medicines and essential medical supplies.

Mohammed Abu Afash, director of Medical Relief in Gaza, said the limited quantities of medical supplies allowed into the Strip fall far short of meeting even the minimum needs of patients, particularly those suffering from chronic diseases.

He warned that without urgent and sustained intervention to ensure the entry of medical and humanitarian aid, Gaza's already devastated healthcare system could face an even more catastrophic situation.

Medical Relief had warned on Thursday that Gaza's healthcare system is going through one of its worst periods amid a severe shortage of basic healthcare resources and the near-total depletion of many essential medical supplies.

Zaher al-Wahidi, director of health information at Gaza's Ministry of Health, previously said the healthcare system's capacity has sharply declined, with only 19 of the Strip's 38 hospitals still operating. Of those, only four are government-run hospitals, functioning under exceptionally difficult conditions.

Al-Wahidi stressed that medical aid entering the Strip outside of the authorized list does little to address the real shortages facing patients and the injured, pointing out that Gaza's emergency medicine needs list includes 593 essential items that are currently unavailable.

Gaza's healthcare sector continues to suffer widespread devastation from Israeli attacks on hospitals and medical facilities, compounded by restrictions on the entry of medicines, medical supplies, and fuel. The ongoing crisis has prompted repeated warnings from medical officials.

The continuing shortages are placing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians at risk, particularly the wounded, people with chronic illnesses, and patients suffering from kidney disease and cancer.

Medical officials have repeatedly called for the immediate and sustained entry of essential medicines and medical supplies to prevent further deterioration of Gaza's healthcare system and protect the lives of patients who increasingly lack access to basic treatment.