Knesset Labor, Welfare and Health Committee: We take a grave view of the privatization of hospitals before legislation is enacted.
The Knesset Labor, Welfare and Health Committee is demanding that the privatization of Wolfson Hospital in Holon be called off. In a brief discussion during this week’s meeting, committee members said that they took a grave view of the privatization of hospitals before legislation was enacted on the basis of recommendations by a government appointed committee, and before any real public or Knesset debate on the subject.
The Labor, Welfare and Health Committee called for the immediate halt in the privatization of hospitals and for them to be restored to the network of government hospitals. The committee also called for the immediate transfer of the necessary budgets to the hospitals.
Wolfson Hospital general director Dr. Yitzhak Berlovitch said that the uncertainty was damaging his ability to manage the hospital and its wards, which were once among the best known in the country. The hospital was also suffering from the flight of doctors and other skilled staff. “The hospital’s financial standing is hurt every day,” he said.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on October 25, 2007
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2007