Palestinian hospitals in Jenin and Nablus struggle amid travel hurdles and drug shortages

An-Najah Hospital, perched on a hill outside Nablus, has become a daily test of safety for its staff, who now journey in duos to bypass Israeli checkpoints and avoid settler assaults, a routine that can add two hours to a normally short trip. The oncology department, which normally treats about 1,000 cancer patients each month, is crippled by a drug and equipment shortage linked to a broader financial squeeze on the West Bank, including customs fees retained by Israel.

Oncologist Razan Odeh explains that suppliers cannot deliver regularly because payments are stalled, leaving patients to either pay directly or attempt risky cross-border purchases. Meanwhile, the Jenin government hospital has endured five strikes in two years, with many health workers leaving due to unpaid salaries, causing some procedures to be postponed for years. Hospital directors are pleading for international aid and hope that a change in Israeli politics might unlock frozen funds for Palestinian health services.