A shortage of stents is threatening the lives of heart patients in Gaza

The cardiac catheterization department at Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza continues its work despite the ongoing and repeated siege and shortages of medical supplies, providing services to thousands of patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases. However, the lack of stents and spare parts due to the siege threatens patients’ lives.

Work at the department resumed after an initial siege ended on August 30, 2025, but was quickly halted by a second siege that lasted three weeks. According to a doctor at Al-Quds Hospital, returning to work was extremely difficult, as the medical team found rubble piled on top of equipment and supplies and had to sort through what was usable to start from scratch.

According to a report broadcast on Al Jazeera Mubasher, the shortage of medical supplies is the biggest obstacle facing the department, especially the stents and balloons needed to open arteries. In addition, there is a shortage of spare parts for the catheterization machine itself. The machine was out of service for a full month out of ten months while awaiting the arrival of an electronic control board from abroad, further complicating the process.

Despite these obstacles, the department recorded its greatest achievement by performing about 1015 catheterization procedures during the past period, and sorting cases that need open-heart surgery or stent placement. However, the doctor acknowledges that the medical team had to remove many patients from the operating tables despite their urgent need for stents due to their unavailability, which forced them to choose between cases according to the severity of the narrowing.