CT Scanner Shortage in Gaza Leaves Patients in Desperate Wait

Nearly two years into the conflict, the health system in the Gaza Strip is on the brink of total collapse, with a critical shortage of computed tomography (CT) scanners becoming a nightmare for thousands of patients. Waiting for a diagnosis using modern equipment can stretch for weeks, even months, allowing many conditions to deteriorate.

Dalia Al-Hawari stood silently behind the protective glass of the hospital's imaging room, her eyes fixed on her 10-year-old son Ahmed as he prepared for a CT scan to assess his injuries. Ahmed had slipped and fallen while playing with friends, striking his head. The scan revealed a fractured skull and severe bleeding, and doctors said urgent medical intervention was needed to treat the trauma.

“This is an emergency. We cannot wait. We were transferred from Al-Aqsa Hospital to Yafa Hospital for the CT scan because Ahmed needs a quick diagnosis,” Dalia said. “At first, I was terrified because I knew that getting a CT scan in Gaza can take weeks, and sometimes one or two months, due to the overwhelming pressure and the shortage of machines.”

Ahmed was fortunate to be assessed quickly, but his mother's initial fears reflect the plight of thousands of patients in Gaza, where access to advanced diagnostic imaging has become a frightening waiting game. Delays in diagnosis can have serious consequences for patients' lives and may even prove fatal.

Gaza's health system has been devastated by the conflict that escalated in October 2023. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 94% of hospitals in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, with only 19 of the 36 facilities partially operational as of May 2025. The ongoing Israeli blockade continues to restrict medical services for Palestinians.

Dr. Waseem Mansour at Yafa Hospital in central Gaza said the crisis in the diagnostic imaging department is one of the most severe consequences of the healthcare system's collapse, undermining doctors' ability to make accurate diagnoses and appropriate treatment decisions.

According to Dr. Mansour, the number of functioning CT scanners in Gaza has dropped dramatically compared with before the war. “Gaza had 18 CT scanners before the war, but today only three main machines are operating to serve all the governorates of the Gaza Strip. All seven MRI machines that existed before are now out of service,” he said.

This places immense strain on the remaining equipment, especially after the CT scanner at Al-Aqsa Hospital stopped working, forcing other centers like Yafa Hospital to take on a larger caseload, from blast injuries to heart attacks. “We are forced to impose strict rationing of scans, prioritizing only life-threatening cases, while less urgent cases have to wait,” he said.

“Delays in performing diagnostic imaging are not merely delays in diagnosis; they can lead to serious complications, especially for cancer patients, who need early detection and monitoring before the disease progresses.” Medical teams are forced to rely on X-rays and ultrasound to manage the backlog, but these methods do not always provide the detailed information that CT or MRI scans offer.

Erin Al-Banna, 31, has been waiting about six weeks for a medical scan after kidney stones caused severe, recurring pain. Her hopes are dashed each time she hears of other cases being prioritized, and she remains waiting for treatment.

“I've been waiting my turn for a month and a half. Every day I suffer severe cramps and rely on painkillers just to endure the pain. But I don't know how much longer I'll be in this state,” she said. “We are living in extremely difficult conditions. The water we drink is not what it used to be, and most of the food available is canned because of the war situation. I feel these conditions have affected my health, but I can't even get an examination to find out the real reason behind my persistent pain.”

While priority is given to life-threatening cases due to limited resources, patients like Erin remain on long waiting lists, turning their daily pain into a prolonged struggle involving delayed diagnosis and medical care. As diagnostic imaging services continue to decline, patients face long journeys of waiting and uncertainty, while doctors try to make treatment decisions with limited tools. The stories of Ahmed and Erin reflect only a fraction of the suffering of thousands of patients who need timely and accurate diagnoses but face delays that could cost them their lives.