Finance Minister Israel Katz and Chairman of the Brothers and Sisters Association reached an agreement on adding 2,000 additional standards • Katz: "The State of Israel owes the nurses a large debt"

• Ilana Cohen in the nurses' protest near Sheba Hospital, today

  Photo: 

  Yossi Zeliger

After one day - the nurses' strike came to an end: Finance Minister Israel Katz and chairman of the Histadrut Brothers and Sisters Ilana Cohen agreed on an outline for dealing immediately with the severe shortage of brothers and sisters.

At the end of the meeting it was agreed that the nurses would return to their regular work starting tomorrow morning. This, as part of the agreement between the parties, according to which they will immediately absorb 2,000 nursing standards in addition to the existing standards, of which 1,600 for the hospitalization system and 400 for the community and public health system, in order to deal with the loads in which the system is located.

Further to this, it was agreed that a joint team will be established immediately that will submit its recommendations regarding a regular supplement to the hospital system within 30 days, prior to the budget discussions. The Minister of Finance has suggested that this issue should be prioritized in the health system budget budget discussions and will work to add nursing standards on a regular basis. 

The nurses' strike has begun // Photo: Shmuel Buharis

In addition, it was agreed that the agreement will address additional issues, including the addition of NIS to nurses in the periphery, providing an economic incentive to strengthen the public health system in the south, extending special care agreements during the corona period, and arranging payment for nurses during the isolation period. 

Finance Minister Israel Katz said: "The State of Israel owes a great debt to the public of nurses, who are at the forefront of the struggle for public health. Their dedication all year round and in the Corona era in particular deserves full respect and appreciation. Their role is in the most appropriate way. "

Ilana Cohen, Chairman of the Brothers and Sisters Federation: "I would like to personally thank the Ministers of Finance, Health and the directors of their ministry, and the entire community of brothers and sisters in the State of Israel who worked for the health of Israeli citizens." Arnon Bar-David, chairman of the Histadrut, welcomed the agreement.