![]() | This article needs to be updated.(April 2019) |
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Agency overview | |
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Formed | 1994 |
Jurisdiction | Government of Palestine |
Agency executive |
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Website | site.moh.ps |
The Ministry of Health manages healthcare in the West Bank, Palestine.
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.
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]
The following is the list of health ministers of the Palestinian National Authority: [7]
# | Minister | Party | Government | Term start | Term end |
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1 | Riyad al-Zanoun | Fatah | 1, 2, 3, 4 | 20 May 1994 | 29 October 2002 |
2 | Ahmad al-Shibi | Fatah | 5 | 29 October 2002 | 30 April 2003 |
3 | Kamal al-Sharafi | Fatah | 6 | 30 April 2003 | 7 October 2003 |
4 | Jawad Tibi | Fatah | 7, 8 | 7 October 2003 | 24 February 2005 |
5 | Thehny al-Wahidi | Fatah | 9 | 24 February 2005 | 29 March 2006 |
6 | Basem Naim | Hamas | 10 | 29 March 2006 | 17 March 2007 |
7 | Radwan al-Akhras | Fatah | 11 | 17 March 2007 | 14 June 2007 |
8 | Fathi Abu Moghli | Independent | 12, 13 | 14 June 2007 | 16 May 2012 |
9 | Hani Abdeen | Fatah | 14 | 16 May 2012 | 6 June 2013 |
10 | Jawad Awad | Fatah | 15, 16, 17 | 6 June 2013 | 13 April 2019 |
11 | Mai al-Kaila | Fatah | 18 | 13 April 2019 | 31 March 2024 |
12 | Maged Abu Ramadan | Independent | 19 | 31 March 2024 | Incumbent |