Ref: 143/2011

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) appeals to the
Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, to immediately intervene to save the
lives of 450 patients, including 15 children, in the Gaza Strip who suffer from
renal failure, as their lives are endangered due to the lack of Dialysis
filers, which are vital disposables that function like normal kidneys and serve
to remove toxins from the blood during dialyses.  

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, on Thursday at noon,
15 December 2011, blood filters ran out at all hospitals in the Gaza Strip, and
consequently, dialyses for 450 patients who suffer from renal failure have been
stopped. 

In the aftermath of this serious development, PCHR participated in
a meeting that was held in the office of World Health Organization in Gaza to
discuss the serious impacts of the lack of this disposable on the lives of
patients.  The meeting was attended by
figures and international and local organizations that are involved in the
health sector.

The participants have concluded that the lack of this disposable seriously
endangers the lives of patients, and its lack is the outcome of political
differences between the Ministries of Health in Ramallah and Gaza.  They have attempted to find mechanisms to
provide this disposable but they have not been able as it is fully depleted in
medical warehouses and pharmacies, especially in the Gaza Strip.  This disposable is available only in the
warehouses of the Ministry of Health in Ramallah. 

It should be noted that hospitals in the Gaza Strip perform 15
dialyses every day, which requires 150 blood filters. 

PCHR expresses utmost concern for the lives of these patients, and
appeals to President Mahmoud Abbas to immediately intervene and instruct the
Ministry of Health in Ramallah to provide blood filters to the Gaza Strip
immediately and regularly.