Health Minister Yacov Ben Yizri wants the new levy to supplement the health budget.
Minister of Health Yacov Ben Yizri has asked Minister of Finance Ronnie Bar-On for the tax receipts from the proposed levy of the health tax on housewives. The 2008 budget include levying an NIS 86 health tax on 500,000 housewives.
Ben Yizri said that the new levy will increase health tax revenues by NIS 500 million. However, the increased revenues will not necessarily result in an increase in the basket of healthcare services or improved medical care. Instead, it will be used to reduce the government's share in the health budget.
Ben Yizri said that a NIS 500 million supplement to the annual health budget would enable the introduction of 30 new essential technologies into the basket of health services, or could be used to improve healthcare quality and infrastructures at government hospitals.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 15, 2007
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