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

Attachments

2,656
referrals issued to Gaza patients to health facilities outside the Palestinian Ministry of Health

60%
of Gaza patient and companion permit applications to Israeli authorities for exit via Erez approved
68%
Gaza patients
52%
Gaza patient companions

83%
of West Bank patient and companion permit applications to Israeli authorities approved

1
Gaza patients called for security interview, application approved

IN FOCUS
Israeli High Court accepts petition on behalf of Gaza patients

Ref: Eight
(Published 26 September 2018)

Part 1 Referrals

August Referrals by the Ministry of Health

In August, the Palestinian Ministry of Health approved 2,656 referrals for Gaza patients to nonMinistry of Health facilities with an estimated cost of 11,684,345 NIS. The average monthly number of referrals for Gaza patients in 2018 has been significantly higher than the monthly average for 2017, with 2,593 referrals per month in 2018 compared to 1,709 in 2017. 1,823 (69%) required access through Erez crossing to reach hospitals in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, while 260 (10%) 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 February 2017 to August 2018.