Availability of essential medicines in 14 remaining health facilities in Gaza

Abstract

Multiple human rights and UN officials have raised grave concerns over violations of international law in the Gaza Strip (or Gaza) that have amounted to extermination and genocide. The Israeli military blockade and violence are causing severe medicine shortages. Between May 21 and July 9, 2025, we measured the availability of 25 essential medicines across 14 functioning facilities in Gaza (six in northern Gaza and eight in southern Gaza), comprising three public hospitals, five humanitarian and relief centres, and six private pharmacies. Only functional facilities were included. Data were collected remotely following the WHO/Health Action International (HAI) methodology, which we adapted for conflict settings on the basis of preprint research conducted in northern Syria. Availability was defined as the proportion of facilities stocking each medicine on the day of data collection; more details are available in the appendix (pp 1–2). Availability was considered very low if it was less than 30%, low if it was 30–49%, somewhat high if it was 50–80%, and high if it was more than 80%.