Shortages leave half of dialysis machines at Gaza's Al-Shifa Hospital out of service

Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza has reported that twenty five of its fifty one dialysis machines are currently nonfunctional. The machines have stopped working because of shortages in essential medical supplies.

Hospital staff have responded by shortening the length of each dialysis session and reducing how often patients receive treatment. These adjustments affect approximately two hundred forty people who suffer from chronic kidney disease.

Doctors have warned that the reduced care increases the chance of serious complications for these patients. Potential problems include heart failure and respiratory failure.

The difficulties at Al-Shifa Hospital form part of wider pressure on Gaza's healthcare system. Months of conflict have produced shortages of medicines, fuel, electricity and equipment across medical facilities.

Officials and medical workers have called for urgent humanitarian access to restore supplies and allow the hospital to return the machines to full operation. Without additional resources the current limits on dialysis treatment are expected to continue.