28 October 2016
New data from the World Health Organisation has found that last month Israel’s approval of permits for Palestinian patients needing to leave Gaza for medical appointments dropped to its lowest rate in seven years.
Of all patients applying to leave via the Erez crossing for treatments such as surgeries in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and abroad, over a third (36 percent) were denied or received no response to their requests from the Israel authorities.
These increasing restrictions also applied to family members accompanying patients to hospital appointments outside of Gaza. Nearly a half (46 percent) of all patient companions were denied or delayed in September.
For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, MAP has been highlighting the barriers to breast cancer treatment and care for women living behind the blockade and closure of Gaza.
 |
| Click to enlarge |
Radiotherapy is completely unavailable in Gaza. Consequently, patients requiring this treatment depend on Israeli authorities to grant permits to travel to East Jerusalem, the only site for radiotherapy in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Chemotherapy and surgical appointments are often similarly affected. Denials and delays to permits can mean missed appointments and thus affect the continuity – and effectiveness – of care.
With restrictions on travel to patient companions, many breast cancer patients also face the prospect of traveling to surgical and other treatment appointment alone. These barriers to the right to movement are therefore leaving many women isolated at a vulnerable and frightening time in their lives.
To take action to support Palestinian women with breast cancer, click here.
Featured image: An infant patient is transferred through the Erez Crossing. Photo credit: Fleur Van Den Sande