On Tuesday 19 March 2013, The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights published a new study under the title “Health Rights for Kidney Failure Patients: Challenges and Hopes”.
The study starts with an introduction on the right to health under the international criteria of human rights.
It introduces kidney failure and various ways of its treatment.
In its third part, the study sheds the light on the reality of the health services provided to kidney failure patients in the Gaza Strip hospitals in general and in Al-Shifa and Dr.
Abdel Aziz Ar-Ranteesi hospitals as models.
Shifa Hospital is the biggest hospital in Gaza that provided such service, and Dr.
Abdel Aziz Ar-Ranteesi Hospital is the only hospital that provides such service for children.
The study is mainly based on interviews conducted by Al Mezan’s researchers with patients, doctors, and nurses in hospitals.
The study dealt with challenges that hinder providing appropriate health services for kidney failure patients in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli blockade and the Palestinian internal split which all prevent the development of the health sector and health services appropriately.
Some of the most important challenges are as follows: · Shortage of the number of doctors, nurses, and beds; · Severe shortage of kidney specialists, and expert nurses for patients with kidney failure; · Shortage in the number of Gambro dialysis machines, which provide dialysis for children under the age of five years; · Lack of peritoneal dialysis, which is better than the Hemodialysis that is available in the Gaza Strip.
There are large numbers of patients who must undergo the peritoneal dialysis in Gaza, and the Ministry of Health refers them outside the Gaza Strip to receive medical treatment; and · shortage of a large number of medicine types and medicine supplies such as: a) Anti-phosphorus injection, immunosuppressive agents, calcium and iron injections and ampules', and medical equipment.
b) Lack of the necessary dialysis fluids, filters, and blood transporters.
c)Dialysis accessories such as blood transporters and filters are not suitable for children, therefore the process of dialysis remains physically and psychologically exhausting for children.
In general, kidney patients live under the lack of medicine.
One of the most primary challenges is the lack of dialysis vatheters.
In many cases, patients are transferred abroad to do plant catheters.
Moreover, overnight accommodation at the Ar Rantisi Hospital is not adequate for treatment due to shortage of beds, narrow space, the lack of proper ventilation.
Al Shifa Hospital has no section for kidney failure patients for overnight stay.
Patients usually sleep at gastroenterology department.
This endangers their lives due to their weak immunity.
The study finally emphasizes the importance of ensuring health rights for kidney failure patients in the Gaza Strip and providing them with appropriate medication.
In the recommendations, the study calls for the following: · The international community to uphold its legal and moral responsibility, and to promptly intervene to ensure the enjoyment of health rights for people in the Gaza Strip, · The international community to promptly intervene to stop the collective punishment imposed by the Israeli occupation on the Gaza Strip, and to oblige Israel to respect its obligations towards the population in the Gaza Strip ;.
· Ending internal Palestinian split, and ensure that the service sector is kept away from all political conflicts to ensure better control over the health sector.
The study also calls on the governments in Ramallah and Gaza to develop health services provided for kidney failure patients by: · Providing adequate numbers of doctors and expert nurses.
· Providing specialized doctors in kidney failure disease.
· Enhancing the capacity of Palestinian doctors and nurses in kidney sections, through participation in conferences, training courses, and other means which can improve their abilities to provide adequate health care to patients with renal failure.
· Providing sufficient numbers of kidney dialysis machines.
Providing Gambro dialysis equipment for adults and children under five.
· Providing peritoneal dialysis, which is better than hemodialysis and is available in the Gaza Strip.
· Building separate and suitably equipped sections for kidney patients stay.
· Providing dialysis service in North Gaza district hospitals as in other districts to facilitate patients’ access to medical services.
· Providing free medicines, without any exception, to patients with renal failure.
· Combining efforts of Palestinian society, governmental and non-governmental organizations to direct support for provision of appropriate means and capacities for the treatment of kidney failure patients.
End