Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the trade union federation. Two others, Maccabee and Meuhedet, are commercially run. The
last, Leumit, is a small fund associated with the Likud Party. The sick funds operate clinics
throughout the country, where members can go to receive basic care. Local Ministry of Health
branches, municipalities, and the sick funds also run mother-and-childcare centers to moni-
tor child development, provide immunizations, and help new mothers.
Every citizen is entitled to a minimum level of tax-fi nanced coverage through one of the
funds and can also purchase supplementary insurance. Basic health insurance covers doc-
tor visits; hospitalization; surgery; dental care for children; medical services at the workplace;
treatment for drug abuse and alcoholism; obstetrics and fertility treatment; and many medica-
tions, among other things. Members with supplemental insurance, which costs an additional
small monthly fee, are entitled to more goods and services, such as a longer list of subsidized
medications, alternative medicine treatments, and smoking cessation seminars.
The “health basket” of medications and services available to basic and supplemental insur-
ance holders is updated annually to include the newest medicines. Medications are far less
expensive than in other countries. But not every treatment makes it onto the list, and there
is greater investment in more glamorous areas like new technology than in long-term basic
services like home care for the elderly.
All care begins with a visit to a general practitioner. Medical records are completely com-
puterized on a national level. The original doctor may provide a letter allowing visits to spe-
cialists. For some operations and other treatments, there might be a waiting list. Doctors can
also choose to offer private treatment for pay if their obligations to the sick fund are fulfi lled.
Israel has many state-of-the-art hospitals, and the country is a global leader in medical
procedures, innovations, and research, including genetic research. Israel has the professional
and technological capacity to provide the highest levels of care currently possible to all types
of patients. A typical scene in a Jerusalem emergency room includes religious, secular, Arab,
Russian, and Ethiopian patients waiting to be treated by a medical staff just as diverse.
Israel invests in the development of biotechnology, and the public is well informed of medi-
cal advances. There is strong public support for investments in life-saving technologies and
therapies. The Jewish principle of taking extraordinary measures to save a life guarantees back-
ing for practices considered controversial in some other countries such as embryo research
and reproductive cloning.
One problem in the Israeli health-care system is the lack of doctors, especially in certain
fi elds. In the 1990s, Russian immigrants who had been doctors before coming to Israel were
able to fi ll needed positions; but as the population continues to grow and immigration slows,
Israel is again experiencing a shortage. Doctors make far less money than in other countries,
which adds to the problem.
In addition to universal health care, Israel also has a National Insurance Institute (Bituach
Leumi) that provides monetary assistance to unemployed and underprivileged members of
society. Employer contributions, along with a portion of everyone's salary, go to the National
Insurance Institute through taxation to ensure that unemployment benefi ts can be allocated
when necessary. The National Insurance Institute is also responsible for allocating child subsi-
dies and payments to single mothers.
