# The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Palestinian Patients Attending Selected Governmental Hospitals: An Analysis of Hospital Records

## TL;DR

The study shows how the COVID-19 pandemic reduced non-COVID patient visits and surgeries in Palestinian hospitals, with some services still maintained.

## Contribution

The paper provides a regional analysis of pandemic impacts on healthcare access in the West Bank.

## Key findings

- Clinic visits dropped by 49% to 90%, with ENT, urology, and pediatric clinics most affected.
- Surgery reductions varied by hospital autonomy, with centralized hospitals seeing up to 91.8% fewer operations.
- Obstetric and gynecological services and essential surgeries were largely maintained despite the pandemic.

## Abstract

Introduction: Confronting the COVID-19 epidemic forced the closure or relocation of the majority of health facilities. It is likely that non-COVID-19 patients suffered collateral effects. Methods: The clinic and operating room records were analyzed at selected Palestinian government hospitals in the West Bank region. Results: The reduction in patient clinic visits varied from 49% to 90%, with Ear-Nose-Throat (ENT), urology, and pediatric clinics being the most affected. The reduction in operation numbers in the center (which had independent decision-making) ranged from 7.1% to 23.4%, but in the north and south (which followed centralized choices), the reduction ranged from 19.6% to 91.8%. Conclusions: COVID-19 affected outpatient visits. The pandemic affected some services, but West Bank hospitals were able to provide normal obstetric and gynecological treatments and help patients who needed primary or intermediate surgery.