Ref: 15/2011

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) expresses grave
concern over the suspension of the work of the Department of External Medical
Treatment in Gaza on Tuesday, 08 March 2011. The Internal Security Service
(ISS), which is affiliated with the government in Gaza, summoned Dr. Bssam
al-Badri, director of the Department of External Medical Treatment in Gaza, on
Tuesday morning, 08 March 2011, and asked him to provide the ISS with
information about the work at the Department. PCHR has concerns that this
suspension may lead to the suspension of the support to hundreds of Gazan
patients who need to obtain referrals for treatment abroad as local hospitals
cannot provide the required treatment.

On Monday, 07 March 2011, Dr. Bssam al-Badri informed a PCHR lawyer
that he had been summoned to appear before the ISS on Tuesday morning, 08 March
2011. Dr. al-Badri presented himself at the ISS headquarters at 10:00 this
morning. It should be noted that Dr. al-Badri had been summoned previously and
that he was questioned about the nature of his work at the Department. The ISS
asked him to provide lists of patients who obtain referrals to receive medical
treatment abroad.

PCHR notes that the work at the Department of External Medical
Treatment has been totally suspended since 10:00 o’clock this morning. The
Department closed its doors to dozens of patients and their families who wanted
to check with the Department regarding their referrals to receive treatment
abroad. PCHR has concerns that the crisis that took place in March 2009, when
the work of the Department was fully suspended for 40 days, may be repeated. As
a result of this crisis, eleven patients died and hundreds of patients were
negatively affected, as they became pawns in the political conflict between the
Palestinian governments in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

PCHR condemns the ISS intervention into the work of the Department
of External Medical Treatment as this intervention violates the rules and
provisions of the Palestinian Health Law no. 20/2000. PCHR calls upon the
government in Gaza to intervene in order to release Dr. al-Badri, put an end to
all forms of illegal intervention into the work of the Department and to allow
competent authorities, namely the Ministry of Health, to assume powers relating
to the Department.