Ministry of Health (Palestine)
 | This article needs to be updated. (April 2019) |
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | State of Palestine |
| Agency executive |
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| Website | site.moh.ps |
The Palestinian Ministry of Health manages healthcare in the West Bank.
The foundation of the Palestinian Authority in 1994, upon the signing of the Oslo Accords, led to a shift in authority responsibilities of the healthcare system from the Israeli Administration to the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian Ministry of Health was founded and since then, the ministry provides majority of health services to the population. [1]
Currently, the ministry is one of Palestine's four key healthcare providers along with Military Medical Services, The United Nations Relief and Works Agency, non-governmental organizations, and private sector, operates 27 hospitals and 61% of hospital beds in Palestine.[2]
From 2019 to 2024, Dr. Mai al-Kaila was the Minister of Health of Palestine. From 2024 until now, this responsibility has been entrusted to Maged Abu Ramadan.
Mission
[edit]- Improving strategic planning, governance, and sustainable financial solutions to optimize the use of available resources
- Encouraging healthier lifestyles and enhancing chronic disease management.
- Ensuring equitable access to high-quality healthcare, with a focus on disadvantaged and vulnerable populations.
- Strengthening financial sustainability through improved funding mechanisms and transparent financial management.
- Maximizing the impact of aid by aligning it with national health strategies.
- Fostering collaboration and integration between the public and private healthcare sectors.
- Expanding cross-sector cooperation, particularly in health-related aspects of national disaster and emergency response planning.
Recent activities
[edit]In March 2025, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with UNICEF and the Government of Japan, launched a US$3.8 million initiative to enhance health and nutrition services for vulnerable populations in Gaza and the West Bank. This 12-month project aims to provide critical primary health care to approximately 180,000 children, women, and families. Key components include revitalizing primary health care services, improving antenatal and postnatal care, managing childhood illnesses, delivering essential nutrition interventions, training 300 health professionals, and establishing four mobile health teams to reach remote communities.[4]
From 14 October to 5 November 2024, UNICEF, in partnership with the Palestinian Ministry of Health and other organizations, carried out the second phase of a polio immunization drive in the Gaza Strip. The campaign was rolled out in three stages and utilized both health center-based vaccination sites and mobile units to ensure wide coverage. A total of 556,774 children - approximately 271,710 girls and 285,064 boys—were immunized, successfully reaching 94% of the intended child population. The effort was supported by 1,174 vaccination teams operating across the region.[5]
The Ministry of Health prioritized services focused on overall health such as emergency medical services, and over 13,000 emergency procedures were performed since October 2023. The Health Cluster was also effectively implemented which is a unified platform that brings together local and international health stakeholders in Palestine to coordinate crisis response and recovery efforts.[6]
List of ministers of health
[edit]The following is the list of health ministers of the Palestinian National Authority:[7]
| # | Name | Party | Time in office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riyad Zanoun | Fatah | March 1994 – October 2002 |
| 2 | Ahmad Shibi | Fatah | October 2002 – April 2003 |
| 3 | Kamal Shrafi | Fatah | April 2003 – September 2003 |
| 4 | Jawad Tibi | Fatah | October 2003 – February 2005 |
| 5 | Thehny Wuhaidi | Fatah | February 2005 – March 2006 |
| 6 | Basem Naem | Fatah | March 2006 – March 2007 |
| 7 | Rodwan Akhras | Fatah | March 2007 – June 2007 |
| 8 | Fathi Abumoghli | Fatah | June 2007 – May 2012 |
| 9 | Hani Abdeen | Fatah | May 2012 – June 2013 |
| 10 | Jawad Awwad | Fatah | June 2013 – 2019 |
| 11 | Mai al-Kaila | Fatah | 2019-2024 |
| 12 | Maged Abu Ramadan | Fatah | 2024- now |
References
[edit]- ^ Giacaman, R. (1 March 2003). "Health sector reform in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT): targeting the forest or the trees?". Health Policy and Planning. 18 (1): 59–67. doi:10.1093/heapol/18.1.59. PMC 1457109. PMID 12582108.
- ^ Najjar, Shahenaz (July 2022). "Stakeholders' Perception of the Palestinian Health Workforce Accreditation and Regulation System: A Focus on Conceptualization, Influencing Factors and Barriers, and the Way Forward". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 19 (13): 8131. doi:10.3390/ijerph19138131. PMC 9265623. PMID 35805791.
- ^ "State of Palestine Ministry of Health". mhpss.ps. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
- ^ "In cooperation with the Palestinian Ministry of Health UNICEF and Government of Japan Sign Agreement to Improve Health and Nutrition Services for Vulnerable Children and Women in the State of Palestine". UNICEF. 11 March 2025. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
- ^ UNICEF. (2024, October 31). State of Palestine Humanitarian Situation Report No. 32. https://www.unicef.org/media/165531/file/State-of-Palestine-Humanitarian-SitRep-No.32-31-October-2024.pdf
- ^ Alkhaldi, Mohammed; Alrubaie, Malak (January 2025). "Roadmap for rebuilding the health system and scenarios of crisis path in Gaza". The International Journal of Health Planning and Management. 40 (1): 241–253. doi:10.1002/hpm.3861. ISSN 0749-6753. PMC 11704815. PMID 39415362.
- ^ "وزارة الصحة الفلسطينية".
External links
[edit]
- Official website (in English)
