Treatment of Palestinian patients in an Israeli hospital: No prejudice, no politics

Background: Despite ongoing conflict, the Israeli medical system has consistently supported its Palestinian counterpart by providing public health services and critical medical care to Palestinians, through times of increased tension and relative quiet. Sick and wounded Palestinians are frequently transferred to Israeli hospitals for advanced medical care. Barzilai Medical Center (BMC), a 500-bed regional hospital in Ashkelon, 7 kilometers north of Gaza, is a frequent recipient of Palestinian patients. Objective: To describe the scope and distribution of medical conditions encountered while treating wounded and sick Palestinians from Gaza during 2006-2007. Results: During 2006, 124 patients from Gaza were admitted to BMC. 46% of patients were admitted for treatment of chronic conditions, many of whom were transferred from Palestinian medical facilities. Acute traumatic and non-traumatic diagnoses represented 29% and 25% of admissions, respectively. The overall case-fatality rate was low: 9.6% in the acute non-traumatic group, 5.6% for trauma patients, and 1.8% for chronic conditions. Conclusion: The admission and treatment of Palestinian patients continues at BMC, despite ongoing Qassam missile attacks on the city of Ashkelon. This Hippocratic action remains largely unpublicized, as public knowledge of this information might place Palestinian patients at risk for violence by radicals. The Israeli population remains dedicated to the principles of ethical medical care, and supports the treatment of the sick and wounded based on needs – and regardless of politics.