Shortages in anaesthesia drugs may stop operations in Gaza

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza has warned that emergency and scheduled surgical operations in public hospitals may be forced to stop as a result of a shortage in nitrous oxide used for general anaesthesia.

The Israeli occupation’s stifling siege on the enclave has prevented the entry of this vital medical equipment since the beginning of the year, the ministry said.

The Director-General of Administrative Affairs, Mahmoud Hammad, said the remaining quantities of nitrous oxide are only sufficient for the next ten days, adding that the ministry has contacted many international bodies, including the WHO, to provide the Strip with more.

Hammad pointed out that the Ministry of Health facilities consume 120 twenty-seven kilogramme nitrous oxide cylinders each month.

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