Ramallah / Gaza – The Coalition for Integrity and Accountability (AMAN) has issued three official letters to local and international health authorities, calling for strengthened transparency and disclosure in the management of medical referrals abroad and the medical evacuation of patients from the Gaza Strip, amid unprecedented challenges driven by the war and the worsening humanitarian situation.
The letters were addressed to the Director General of Hospitals at the Ministry of Health in Gaza, the Director of the World Health Organization in the occupied Palestinian territory, and the Palestinian Minister of Health. All three underscore the need to clearly define and publicize the procedures and criteria governing this vital file, in a manner that ensures fairness and equal access to services for all patients.
Clarity of procedures and selection criteria
In its letter to the Director General of Hospitals in Gaza, the AMAN Coalition stressed the importance of publicly disclosing the mechanisms for managing medical referrals and evacuations, particularly given the urgent need to secure treatment for more than 21,000 patients outside the Strip. The Coalition called for clarifying coordination mechanisms with the Ministry of Health in the West Bank and with international partners, as well as the procedures used to compile travel lists and the medical criteria applied to determine priorities.
It further called for transparency regarding the entities authorized to enter and amend data, the regulatory controls governing these processes, and the oversight and auditing mechanisms in place to safeguard integrity. The Coalition also emphasized the need for effective, accessible channels to receive and address citizens’ complaints and inquiries, in order to strengthen public trust in health institutions.
Letter to the World Health Organization: safeguarding integrity in humanitarian action
In its letter to the Director of the World Health Organization in the occupied Palestinian territory, the AMAN Coalition noted the resumption of medical evacuations through the Rafah crossing since February, describing it as a renewed source of hope for patients. At the same time, it noted ongoing concerns among patients about how travel dates are determined, as well as continued difficulties in accessing clear and timely information.
The Coalition called on the Organization to clearly define its technical and logistical role in evacuation operations, including the nature of its coordination with the Ministry of Health and the mechanisms used to compile travel lists. It also stressed the need to set out the procedures in place to safeguard the integrity of humanitarian decisions and to prevent any undue or non-professional interference.
AMAN further called for clarity on internal review mechanisms in cases where complaints are submitted, the availability of disclosure policies related to case selection criteria, and the reasons preventing some patients from traveling, including the factors influencing final travel lists. It also urged the strengthening of communication channels with citizens to ensure effective and timely responses to their inquiries and complaints.
Call to the Palestinian Ministry of Health: clarifying roles and strengthening oversight
In its letter to the Palestinian Minister of Health, the AMAN Coalition emphasized the importance of clearly defining the Ministry’s role in managing the file of treatment abroad, particularly its oversight function, in view of the many entities involved in this field. The Coalition called for clarifying coordination mechanisms with technical and medical committees in the Gaza Strip, the criteria used to prioritize patient referrals, and the extent to which these are made publicly available.
It also called for greater transparency regarding the work of the Service Purchasing Committee, including its decision-making processes, the oversight and supervision applied, and the safeguards in place to ensure integrity. The Coalition further stressed the importance of establishing clear and accessible communication channels with citizens, alongside adopting effective mechanisms to receive, review, and address complaints in accordance with due process.
Strengthening trust and protecting patients’ rights
The AMAN Coalition emphasized that making this information publicly available would directly strengthen transparency and accountability, and reinforce public trust in local and international health institutions, particularly under the exceptional conditions in the Gaza Strip.
It further stressed that clear, fair procedures are essential to protecting patients’ rights and ensuring equitable access to treatment, free from any undue or non-professional considerations.
The Coalition concluded its letters by stressing the need for a prompt response to these demands, given the sensitivity of this file and its direct impact on the lives of thousands of patients awaiting treatment opportunities outside the Strip.
