WHO: 18,500 patients in Gaza need specialized medical care unavailable locally

In a post on the US-based platform X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Tedros said WHO and its partners supported the evacuation of 5 patients and 7 companions to Egypt through the Rafah crossing on Monday.

He added that this was the first medical evacuation via this route since March 2025.

Dr. Tedros emphasized the urgent need for rehabilitation and reconstruction to reduce dependence on medical evacuations, following more than two years of relentless attacks on Gaza.

He also stressed the importance of rapidly boosting health services, including the supply of medical materials, repairing damaged facilities, and expanding vital services to build a resilient and sustainable health system inside Gaza.

Additionally, he called for the immediate reopening of medical referral routes to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, to ensure faster access to life-saving care.

Earlier, Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, Director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza, said specialized medical committees are prioritizing cases based on severity. He noted that around 450 patients are in critical condition, and some are dying almost daily due to delays in receiving treatment outside the Strip.