Challenges of access to care for children with cancer living in the Gaza Strip/occupied Palestinian territory in 2022: a cross-sectional study.
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INTRODUCTION: Cancer care in humanitarian settings is very challenging, and patients may face significant barriers to accessing the care they need. This study explored access to advanced diagnostic and treatment services for children with cancer in humanitarian settings, taking Gaza as a case study. METHODS: The study was based on 51 key informant interviews and two focus group discussions with close relatives of children with cancer, healthcare providers and Ministry of Health officials between November 2021 and January 2022. We also analysed referral data for paediatric oncology care outside Gaza in 2021. RESULTS: Among the structural barriers to cancer care are complex and lengthy referral mechanisms, along with an unclear permit system. These challenges contribute to significant delays in both diagnosis and the initiation of treatment. The referral pathway involves multiple administrative and logistical steps to secure approval for treatment outside Gaza. It begins with a physician-initiated referral, approval of the Ministry of Health Service Purchasing Unit, and concludes with exit permit requests for the child and a companion, which must be approved by the Israeli Gaza Coordination and Liaison Administration. Analysis of 2021 referral data reveals that 25% of children with cancer experienced permit delays of over 1 month, and 8% died while waiting for an exit permit. CONCLUSIONS: The urgent need to scale up cancer care in Gaza is critical, particularly for children who face severe challenges due to ongoing conflict, the Israeli blockade since 2006 and the closure of the only paediatric oncology department. Immediate, coordinated national and global efforts are essential to overcome political, medical and financial barriers. Improving health outcomes and survival for children with cancer in Gaza requires addressing the root causes of late diagnosis, as well as the complex referral and unclear permit processes that delay timely access to specialised care.