Israeli Restrictions Impede Palestinian Access to Healthcare, Says World Bank
In a recent report titled "Racing Against Time," the World Bank has highlighted the profound impact of Israeli restrictions and increasing fiscal constraints on the Palestinian territories, particularly on the economic conditions of Palestinians and their access to crucial healthcare services.
The report, released on Monday, emphasizes that the overall Palestinian economy is underperforming, with per capita income projected to remain stagnant.
The report reveals a concerning rise in poverty within in Palestine, with one in four Palestinians living below the poverty line, according to the Washington-based global lending institution.
Several factors contribute to the precarious state of the Palestinian economy, including the occupying regime’s restrictions on movement and trade in the occupied West Bank and the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, as outlined in the report.
Stefan Emblad, the World Bank's director for the West Bank and Gaza, expressed his concerns, stating that fiscal constraints are burdening the Palestinian healthcare system, particularly in dealing with the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases.
He highlighted that the lengthy, bureaucratic permit process imposed by Israeli authorities often makes it challenging to provide timely life-saving healthcare to Palestinians.
The report points out that access to external medical referrals for conditions such as cancer, heart diseases, and maternal and child birth complications is significantly hindered due to both physical and administrative constraints. Gaza, in particular, faces critical challenges due to its limited healthcare capacity, with patients struggling to obtain necessary medical exit permits promptly.
The report also suggests that the near-blockade of Gaza has led to increased mortality rates, as some patients do not survive the protracted permit process.
Additionally, Israel's blockade on Gaza, in effect since 2007, has impeded the flow of medical supplies to the enclave, further exacerbating healthcare challenges.
The World Bank has called upon both Israel and Palestinian authorities to better manage medical cases and streamline the permit process to ensure timely healthcare assistance to patients and their accompanying companions.
Emblad highlighted that the Palestinian economy has been stagnating for the past five years, and without significant changes in ground policies, there is little expectation of improvement. "Given population growth trends, income per capita is thus expected to stagnate," the World Bank concluded.
Source: Agencies
