76 Pct Of Medical Imaging Equipment Destroyed, Exacerbating Health Crisis In Gaza

GAZA, May 18 (Bernama-WAFA) -- Medical imaging services in the remaining functioning hospitals in the Gaza Strip confirmed that they are facing severe challenges due to the widespread destruction of the health system during the war, the Palestine News and Info Agency (WAFA) reported.

The sources indicated that the Strip lost 76 per cent of its medical imaging equipment, while the remaining equipment, representing only 24 per cent, is operating under difficult technical conditions.

This is compounded by the increasing need for services and the difficulty of conducting routine maintenance and obtaining spare parts.

They added that MRI services are now completely unavailable in the Gaza Strip after the destruction of nine machines, further complicating diagnostic and treatment interventions for patients and the wounded.

They also explained that only five out of 18 CT scanners are still operational, and even those are under immense pressure, failing to meet the daily needs for diagnostic imaging services.

The sources indicated that before the war, the Strip had 88 conventional X-ray machines, of which only 33 are currently operational. These remaining machines are dilapidated, frequently malfunctioning, and require constant maintenance and spare parts.

They pointed out that operating rooms are in dire need of fluoroscopy equipment, as only five devices are available out of the 16 that existed before the war, warning that the continued crisis in medical imaging services increases the complications of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for patients.

-- BERNAMA-WAFA