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Ever since she suffered a stroke five years ago, Amal Ardat, 59, a resident of Gaza, has had to take anticoagulant medications daily to prevent a potentially fatal relapse. For years, Amal took Xarelto, which she purchased at private pharmacies on her doctor’s advice. The doctor had emphasized the importance of continuing the treatment and avoiding substitutes unless absolutely necessary. However, after the outbreak of the war and the closure of the border of Gaza, supplies gradually ran out until the medication disappeared from public and private pharmacies, as well as from UNRWA clinics that had previously provided it free of charge to refugees.
His family searched for the medication in various parts of the Gaza Strip. Relatives living abroad also tried to send it to her, but restrictions on the entry of medical supplies prevented its delivery. As the shortage persisted, Amal was forced to switch to another medication, the availability of which was also irregular, sometimes forcing her to reduce the dosage or delay taking it to make her remaining supply last longer.
In Search of an Alternative
“I was always afraid of running out of pills and not being able to find more,” Amal said. “The mere thought of no longer having access to this medication caused me constant anxiety, because stopping treatment could put me at risk of another stroke.”
She explains that this concern was shared by her entire family, who joined her in searching for this medication throughout the Gaza Strip. Even after the announcement of ceasefire, they continue to follow news about the availability of medications, as the treatment she has relied on for years remains unavailable.
Drug Shortages and Their Impact on Daily Life
Khuloud Ghoneim faces similar challenges in managing her chronic high blood pressure. She relied on Diovan to control her blood pressure, but when that medication became unavailable during the war, she was forced to turn to other treatments that were not always available.
Her difficulties are not limited to treating high blood pressure. Shortly before the war, Khuloud underwent a hysterectomy and was prescribed various vitamins and dietary supplements to aid her recovery. These supplements, too, have disappeared from pharmacy shelves.
“I often feel exhausted and don’t have the energy I used to,” she explains. “Not taking these supplements has hindered my recovery and made it harder for me to manage my daily responsibilities and take care of my children.”
Khuloud, whose husband has passed away, is the sole provider for her family. Any deterioration in her health directly affects her ability to earn a living. childcare and run the house.
Jamal Rummanah, who has suffered from high blood pressure for years, has faced similar difficulties. He relied on Diovan to stabilise his condition but was forced to seek available alternatives after the drug disappeared from local pharmacies.
«Getting my medication has become much harder than it used to be,» Jamal said. «Sometimes I have to go to several pharmacies to find it or to find a suitable alternative. What worries me most is having to change medication repeatedly, because I depend on it every day to manage my health.”
The data reflect the scale of the crisis
These testimonies reflect a much wider reality affecting thousands of patients throughout Gaza. In May 2026, the Gaza Ministry of Health warned that severe drug shortages were threatening the lives of approximately 225,000 people suffering from hypertension and other chronic illnesses, who depend on regular treatment to maintain their health.
Janine Rummanah, a fifth-year medical student completing her clinical internship in hospitals in Gaza states that the crisis goes beyond a simple shortage of medicines.
“The problem isn’t just the lack of medication,” he explains. “It’s also the constant uncertainty that patients have to live with. Many don’t know if they’ll be able to get their medication next month.”
According to Janine, changing medications or reducing their doses due to shortages can have a direct impact on patients' health, particularly those with heart disease, high blood pressure, or a history of stroke.
“During my clinical training, I noticed that many patients came to their appointments just as concerned about getting their medications as they were about the symptoms they were experiencing,” she said.
A Crisis That Persists Beyond the Ceasefire
The shortage of medicines in Gaza is closely linked to the closure of the borders and restrictions on the entry of medical supplies. Because deliveries have been subject to prolonged delays, stocks of many essential medicines—including anticoagulants, heart medications, and treatments for high blood pressure—have gradually run out.
This shortage has affected both public health facilities, private pharmacies and UNRWA clinics, forcing the Healthcare workers to adapt treatment plans based on available products rather than as originally prescribed.
Despite the end of active military operations and the announcement of a ceasefire, the medication crisis in Gaza is not over. Many essential medicines remain unavailable, while others are arriving in quantities insufficient to meet demand. As thousands of patients with chronic illnesses continue to seek the treatments they depend on, access to care remains determined more by the availability of medications than by the treatment plans recommended by their doctors.
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