August 2012 Summary
- Rafah closure: During August 2012, Egyptian authorities closed Rafah border for 17 days. As a result several hundred patients and their companions were unable to reach their hospital appointments in Egypt.
- Died while waiting for permit: A female patient suffering from breast cancer died while waiting for a permit to cross Erez and access the health care she was referred to.
- Interrogated: 10 patients were reported to have been called for Israeli interrogation (2 females; 8 males).
- Denied: 7 patients (1 female; 6 males) were denied permits to exit Erez crossing for medical treatment.
- Delayed: 35 patients (12 females; 23 males) did not receive a response to their permit applications and missed their hospital appointments.
- MoH referrals requiring permits: The number of referred patients needing access through Erez was 599 (336 to East Jerusalem, 164 to Israel, and 99 to the West Bank). 209 patients were referred to Egypt which requires special clearance at the border.
- Medical reasons: Most August referrals were for: oncology (19%), ophthalmology (11%), nuclear medicine (9%), pediatrics (8%), hematology (7%), neurosurgery (5%), cardiology (5%). The estimated cost for referrals was NIS 8,223,563 about $2,108,389.
- Decreased internal Gaza referrals: Only 28 referrals were made in August by the Ministry of Health to private or non-governmental health facilities in Gaza, compared to 289 internal referrals in January. According to the RAD in Gaza, one explanation for the drop is that both the MRI and cardiac catheterization in Gaza European Hospital began functioning again, replacing the need for outside referrals.
Closure of Rafah crossing
The travel of patients out of Gaza for specialised medical treatment in Egypt was interrupted due to the closure of the Rafah border crossing for a total of 17 days during August. August registered the lowest number of referrals to Egypt during 2012: only 209 cases were referred by the MoH due to the border situation.
No referrals to Jordan
MoH referrals of Gaza patients to Jordan totally stopped in August 2012, reflecting the financial crisis of the Palestinian Authority as well as a policy begun in May of reducing referrals to the most costly destinations.
According to RAD data for August 48% of referrals were female patients and male patients were 52%.
Patient applications for Israeli-issued permits to cross Erez
In August 2012, 585 patient applications were submitted to the Israeli District Liaison Office (DCL) for permits to cross Erez to access hospitals in the West Bank including East Jerusalem, or in Israel and Jordan compared with 764 in July (see Table 3). 88% were MoH referrals (see Tables 2 and 3).
In August, 93% (543 patients) were approved permits; 7 patients (one female and six males) were denied permits to cross Erez checkpoint (1.2%). The patients were seeking treatment for orthopedics (4), and neurosurgery; neurology and ophthalmology (1 each).
35 patients (6%), including 13 children, received no answer to their applications and missed their hospital appointment date (9-ophthalmic treatment; 4-oncology; 4-pediatrics; 4-orthopedic treatment; 3-rehabilitation and the remaining 11 for other specialties).
10 patients (2 females and 8 males) were called for interrogation by the Israeli General Security Services (GSS) after applying for a permit. Following their interrogation, 6 patients received no response from the GSS about their permit application, 2 were approved, 2 were asked to resubmit their request.
*Only including patients and ambulances that have been coordinated in advance.
Source: General Authority of Civil Affairs and Emergency Medical Services in the MoH in Gaza.
Case Study: Young Woman Twice Delayed by Erez, Dies Before Receiving Permit
- Death of patient; A 34-year-old female patient suffering from breast cancer, and who was referred by MoH to Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem, died while waiting for permit to access health care outside Gaza.
Her hospital appointment had been on July 15, 2012. On July 12, her application for a permit to cross Erez was submitted to the Israeli District Liaison Office, which responded that she had to make a new appointment because they needed more time to investigate her case. Another appointment was obtained for August 5, 2012, and on that day the Israeli authorities requested that the patient again reschedule her appointment.
When this was communicated to the patient’s family they explained that she had died on July 29, 2012.
Document Sources: World Health Organization (WHO)
Subject: Access and movement, Assistance, Closures/Curfews/Blockades, Gaza Strip, Health, Humanitarian relief
Publication Date: 19/09/2012