Chronic kidney failure patients in the Gaza Strip have been suffering from the absence of “Erythropoietin” hormone. It is not available in private pharmacies.
Patients are forced to have blood transfusion up to two times three times a month, depending on the state of their health conditions.
Hematology consultant at the Ministry of Health-Gaza, Dr. Hassan al-Khatib Said that chronic kidney failure patients need “Erythropoietin” hormone desperately to enhance their health conditions, and reduce their need for blood transfusion, which is a heavy burden on patients and may expose them to several complications such as hyperthermia, hypersensitivity, shortness of breath and infection.
Dr. Khatib stressed that the absence of “Erythropoietin” hormone puts a great pressure on the blood bank in terms of consumption to meet the need for a large number of kidney failure patients.
In addition, it is required that the blood transfused to these patients must not be older than 7 days from the date of donation, to prevent increasing “potassium” level in blood. This poses a difficult challenge on medical personnel in terms of providing new and large amounts of blood to these patients.
