The Bab al-Hawa Hospital in Idlib, Syria, is facing a funding crisis that could lead to its closure by the end of September, jeopardizing healthcare for thousands of patients, including those in need of dialysis like Ayman al-Khayal. The hospital, which provides vital services for dialysis, brain surgery, and cancer treatment, is at risk of shutting down due to a lack of financial support, despite efforts by the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) to find new donors.
The closure of Bab al-Hawa would lead to a medical crisis in opposition-controlled areas of Syria, where dozens of health facilities have already closed in the past year due to funding shortages. Patients with kidney failure, like al-Khayal, are particularly vulnerable, as there are few centres with dialysis machines and the cost of treatment at private hospitals is prohibitive.
The situation in northwest Syria is dire, with a third of health facilities already non-functional and as many as 230 facilities facing closure by December if funding shortages continue. Health authorities are exploring solutions such as merging facilities, finding new donors, and charging patients small fees to procure supplies, but the urgency of the situation remains.
For patients like al-Khayal, the closure of Bab al-Hawa would be devastating, as it is their only lifeline to crucial medical treatment. As the end of September approaches, the future of the hospital remains uncertain, leaving patients and their families anxiously awaiting a resolution to the funding crisis.
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