Khaldoun Atwan, head of the daytime oncology unit at Beit Jala Government Hospital in the occupied West Bank, navigates a daily gauntlet of closed checkpoints and erratic blockades just to reach work. Commuting from Hebron has become an unpredictable ordeal, with medical staff frequently reporting property damage and severe travel disruptions amid escalating tensions.

The healthcare system across the occupied West Bank is reportedly deteriorating rapidly, driven by a financial collapse of the Palestinian Authority. This fiscal crisis has been severely exacerbated by the Israeli regime's ongoing withholding of tax revenues, alongside a sharp reduction in international assistance. Consequently, medical personnel are allegedly receiving only half their salaries, while the Ministry of Health lacks the necessary funds to procure essential medications.

Oncologists at the hospital warn that critical supplies, particularly chemotherapy drugs, immunotherapy, and biologics, are critically depleted. Doctors state that complete treatment protocols are virtually nonexistent, leaving cancer patients to suffer regressions as they miss crucial sessions. While pharmacy officials manage to secure sporadic shipments, the vast majority of vital treatments remain out of stock, forcing patients to either pay exorbitant private costs or go without care. F

Furthermore, multiplying military checkpoints and road closures have turned simple commutes into multi-hour journeys for both staff and patients, particularly those requiring regular dialysis or cancer treatments. Healthcare workers express deep psychological exhaustion and uncertainty, noting that the systemic dismantling of infrastructure and financial resources leaves the local population with severely compromised medical access.

Source: www.aljazeera.com