Maccabi CPH report presents a scenario for the corona's second wave outbreak that will be combined with influenza morbidity • 1.2 million influenza vaccines were ordered • Full details

200 thousand patients a week will command clinics, doubling the number of Hmthsnim flu and flu vaccines B"driib providing no "with the help of medics, paramedics and pharmacists: This is a reference scenario presented by Maccabi Healthcare Services' preparation for next winter, then be integrated with the flu morbidity side The Corona virus, which is still unclear how it will behave later and when its "second wave" will arrive. The HMO also hopes that the Corona will stay with us not only this winter, but also for the next two years.

Corona Questions and Answers // Photo: Ministry of Health

With the end of the Corona's first wave at the health funds, it is preparing for a second wave that is expected in the winter, when dealing with it along with the illness of the flu is expected to be challenging. A national plan prepared at the HMO and submitted earlier this week to Health Minister Yuli Edelstein estimates the wave of patients suffering from flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough and respiratory infection in 200,000 patients a week during the peak period.

The price tag required for the next wave of health funds is estimated at about NIS 1 billion for all funds, about half the cost of one day of general closure. According to the scenario, if the corona morbidity is similar to the last wave, about 4,000 corona patients are expected to be hospitalized each week. In a large-scale outbreak scenario, there will be 5,000 and in an extreme scenario, similar to what happened in Italy and Spain, the number will reach 25,000 patients.

How's Maccabi for the next winter?

Maccabi has ordered 1.2 million flu vaccines, twice as many as last winter, but they are expected to receive only half the amount due to global demand and call on the Ministry of Health to intervene and purchase more vaccines for the HMOs. When, in the coming winter, a revolution in influenza vaccines is expected and to prevent congestion and infection, they will be given away outside vaccine clinics, Drive Inn complexes, community centers, schools and more.

At the same time, the HMO is preparing pharmacists to vaccinate against influenza and is also considering the assistance of other professionals such as military paramedics or paramedics. Already in the coming months Maccabi will move to provide medicines for chronic patients for a period of 6 months instead of 3 today, to prevent patients in risk groups the need to reach clinics.

As part of the national plan submitted to the Ministry of Health, Maccabi recommends that a model be developed that will allow the detection of outbreaks and include tests for the detection of the virus in the sewage, alongside group corona tests where 100 tests are done concurrently instead of one test. Another recommendation is the purchase of state-of-the-art protective equipment, drugs and vaccines to ensure sufficient inventory in Israel and an expansion of the possibility of home hospitalization.

The plan spares no criticism of the Ministry of Health's conduct in the previous Corona wave. Maccabi notes that the Ministry of Health has focused on hospital readiness, even though over 90% of Corona patients received medical treatment and treatment. Although the funds have shown flexibility and agility and have moved remotely. It was also claimed that the focus was on the capabilities of the State of Israel while only 279 people died. This view, excluding the health funds from the plan, "distorted the overall planning of the fight against the epidemic," according to the report.

At the same time, he noted that "the HMOs did not participate in the national decision-making process and instead of being responsible for the health care management of the HMOs, which is responsible for providing health services to citizens, the powers of care have been transferred to other bodies including MDA that performed corona testing."

Maccabi claims that the Ministry of Health was not in the first wave to treat other diseases alongside the corona, causing a 30% reduction in heart attack diagnosis and a 40% reduction in stroke diagnosis, along with rejection of early cancer screening tests; Data that may cause an increase in morbidity, disability and even mortality.

Special inspection post of Maccabi hospital // Photo: Maccabi spokesmen

CEO of Maccabi Ran Sa'ar: "This winter we can save more patients and leave the economy open. The cost of a closure day in the economy was NIS 2 billion. If even half of this amount is invested in health funds - the economy can continue to function without closure. The plan we present can be implemented tomorrow, does not require heavy infrastructure or imaginary moves and can certainly save lives Hundreds of Israelis. The winter epidemic will be mostly of the community and we will have to change the concept and convince decision-makers that things need to be done differently. We need to save lives and keep the economy working. I do not believe that Israel will be able to stand in a general closure. "

Prof. Nachman Ash, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Head of the Health Division said: "90% of Corona patients were treated at the HMO. In the next wave, we will be ready for even greater numbers that will be sick in both Corona and influenza. In addition, we will significantly expand home care for patients at risk groups who do not want to be exposed to viruses outside their home. " 

According to the report's editors, Deputy Strategy Director Dr. Miri Mizrahi Reuveni, and Dr. Anat Aka Zohar, head of Maccabi's Quality and Research Department, "The current crisis has made it clear to the entire system that the center of gravity is in the community. The epidemic has created the possibility of changing the way we all receive medical service "The time remaining until the next outbreak must be utilized and strengthened by the community to create maximum readiness so that the public receives remotely customized treatment at home. The oncoming wave of morbidity is expected to be combined with corona and influenza - a situation the system has not previously faced."