Patient arrested at Erez; Rafah terminal closed in July
• Rafah border: Rafah terminal was completely closed both directions in July, preventing access for all travellers including patients, in either direction and preventing entry of medical aid and medical delegations to Gaza. The border has been opened a total of only 15 days so far this year, allowing only 127 patients to cross into Egypt for health care. Before the July 2013 closure, more than 4000 Gaza residents crossed Rafah monthly for health-related access.
• Patient arrested at Erez crossing: (page 5).
• Erez: 1,764 patients applied for permits to exit Gaza through Erez checkpoint for hospital appointments in July.
According to the Palestinian District Liaison office in Gaza, 82.82% of patients were approved, 15.59% received no response to their applications (275 patients, including 91 children) and 1.59% were denied permits (28 patients, including 2 children and 1 elderly patient over 60 years old). 23 patients (17 males; 6 females) were requested to attend Israeli security interviews after applying for a permit, the highest number in a month since January 2014. None received permits
MoH referrals in July
• Ministry of Health referred 1,647 Gaza patients in July for outside care. The July totals were 6% less than the monthly average so far in 2015: According to the Ministry of Health Referral Abroad Department (RAD) in Gaza, oncology, hematology, orthopaedic surgery, nuclear medicine, and ophthalmology were the main referral specialties needed in July.
• Gender gap: The gender gap in Gaza referrals remained very wide: 56.28% male patients versus 43.72% female patients. 28.3% of all referrals were for children aged 0-17 years and 16.94% were for patients aged over 60 years.