Summary
Outside referrals: September represented the highest month of Ministry of Health referrals of patients to outside facilities since January 2011, prompted by drug shortages and unavailability of specialists and equipment.
As in recent months, referrals to Egypt dropped to 50% of usual levels; referrals remained negligible to Jordan. 49% of Gaza referrals were to hospitals within the occupied Palestinian territory (West Bank and East Jerusalem).Access: 5 patients, all males between the ages of 18 and 60, were denied permits. 116 patients --- 40 females and 76 males (8.9% of total applicants) --- received no response to their applications, including 23 children, which delayed medical treatment. 90.7% of applicants received permits.
Patients interrogated: 7 patients (6 males; 1 female) who had applied for permits to cross Erez checkpoint were requested to appear for Israeli security interviews. None were granted a permit after interrogation.
Medical reasons for referrals: Most referrals were for treatment in the following specialties: oncology--226 patients (13.8%), urology--158 (9.6%), nuclear medicine--134 (8.2%), orthopedics--123 (7.5%), ophthalmology--109 (6.7%), pediatrics--98 (6%), heart catheterization--89 (5.4%), MRI--75 (4.6%), neurosurgery--75 (4.6%), haematology--68 (4.2%), and heart surgery--66 (4%).
Gender gap: There was a significant gender gap in referrals: 57.4% male patients versus 42.6% female patients. 25% of all referrals were children aged 0-17 years and 18% were elderly over 60 years.
Cost: The total estimated cost for Gaza MoH referrals during September was NIS 10,646,503.