The healthcare crisis in Gaza is exacerbated by a severe shortage of medical imaging services, leaving many patients in prolonged states of suffering and uncertainty. As families cope with the aftermath of conflict, the struggles faced by individuals like Ahmed and Erin highlight the urgent need for reform and support within this vital aspect of healthcare. With limited access to CT scans and MRIs, timely diagnoses remain a distant hope for countless individuals.
In Gaza, the healthcare system is grappling with unprecedented challenges, particularly in the medical imaging sector. Dalia Al-Hawari stood behind the glass partition in a hospital imaging room, anxiously watching as her 10-year-old son Ahmed prepared for a CT scan to assess his injuries. Ahmed had suffered a head injury while playing with friends, and the results revealed a skull fracture accompanied by severe bleeding, necessitating urgent medical intervention. Dalia recounted the urgency of their situation, explaining that they were referred from Al-Aqsa Hospital to Yafa Hospital for a prompt diagnosis. She expressed her fear of the long wait times typical for CT scans in Gaza, where patients can face delays stretching weeks or even months due to an overwhelming backlog and limited machinery availability.
Ahmed was fortunate to receive a quick assessment, but his experience underscores a widespread issue plaguing thousands of patients in Gaza. The health infrastructure in the region has been severely damaged, largely due to the ongoing challenges faced by the local medical community. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a staggering 94% of hospitals in Gaza have suffered damage or destruction, with only 19 out of 36 health facilities reported as partially operational by May 2025. This situation is compounded by the tightened restrictions on health services, severely impacting the Palestinian population’s access to necessary medical attention.
Dr. Waseem Mansour, a physician at Yafa Hospital, identified the crisis of medical imaging as one of the most pressing consequences of the healthcare system’s deterioration. He noted a significant decline in the number of CT scan machines since the latest conflict escalated on October 8, 2023. Before the war, Gaza had 18 operational CT machines; however, only three remain in service, further straining an already overloaded system. Additionally, all seven MRI machines previously available are currently out of commission.
As the remaining imaging machines face increased demand, Dr. Mansour highlighted a concerning reality: healthcare providers must prioritize life-threatening cases, leaving less urgent patients to suffer through extended waits for diagnosis and treatment. Delays can have dire consequences, particularly for conditions like cancer that require timely detection and management. In anticipation of the limitations posed by damaged imaging equipment, medical teams have turned to X-rays and ultrasounds, but these alternatives often lack the diagnostic precision required for many conditions.
Amidst this crisis, patients like Erin Al-Banna bear the brunt of the healthcare backups. A 31-year-old grappling with severe kidney stone-related pain, Erin has been waiting approximately six weeks for medical imaging, facing daily agony without clarity on her condition. Her story reflects a larger narrative of struggle; many patients contend with discomfort while enduring challenges related to both the availability of medical imaging and the broader conditions of life in Gaza.
While life-threatening cases take precedence in this critical environment, countless others are left waiting, their health needs sidelined in a system stretched beyond its limits. The deteriorating state of medical imaging services has left many individuals to navigate a prolonged journey of uncertainty, with timely diagnoses slipping further from reach. Ahmed and Erin’s experiences represent only a fraction of the larger crisis impacting thousands of patients in Gaza today.
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