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Monthly Report: Health Access - Barriers for patients in the occupied Palestinian territory, September 2018

Attachments

2,791 referrals issued to Gaza patients to health facilities outside the Palestinian Ministry of Health

52% of Gaza patient and companion permit applications to Israeli authorities for exit via Erez approved
58% Gaza patients
46% Gaza patient companions

82% of West Bank patient and companion permit applications to Israeli authorities approved

Gaza patient called for security interview

IN FOCUS

Cancer patient prevented from accessing health care outside Gaza for more than a year.

Part 1 Referrals
September Referrals by the Ministry of Health

In September, the Palestinian Ministry of Health approved 2,791 referrals for Gaza patients to nonMinistry of Health facilities with an estimated cost of 10,459,218 NIS. The average monthly number of referrals for Gaza patients in 2018 has been significantly higher than the monthly average for 2017, with 2,615 referrals per month in 2018 compared to 1,709 in 2017. 1,905 (68%) required access through Erez crossing to reach hospitals in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, while 232 (8%) required access through Rafah terminal to access health care in Egypt.
Chart 1 shows the number of referral documents issued to patients in Gaza from March 2017 to September 2018.