The chairman of the Association of Public Health Physicians has submitted a letter of resignation, and it seems that he is facing the political system • He claims that the steps taken in dealing with the crisis were due to personal considerations • "Arbitrary instructions were given"
Prof. Levin
Photography:
Yossi Zeliger
Prof. Hagai Levin, chairman of the Association of Public Health Physicians, resigned this evening (Saturday) from his position and from the expert cabinet that advises the corona commissioner and is considering running in the election campaign.
In the letter of resignation, he stated that "in view of the size of the hour and the need to heal Israel and the serious threats to public health during this period and in view of the political and value depression, I feel a deep obligation to examine the way I can influence the public in Israel."
Levin argued that the measures taken to deal with the crisis were arbitrary and illogical and raised concerns about personal considerations of the political echelon.
He further noted that the government refused to take measures to reduce the increase in morbidity, such as the treatment of those entering Ben Gurion Airport, and preferred a full closure with devastating consequences and disconnection from the public.
Instead of a totalitarian-police approach, there should have been genuine cooperation and transparency with the public, while creating trust, solidarity and intrinsic motivation to adhere to prudent health behavior during the Corona period while exercising discretion and risk management, personal, community and national.
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"Instead, the government chose to act with forceful, disproportionate and unbalanced measures. Alongside logical and accepted guidelines, arbitrary, inconsistent and internal logic were occasionally given, which were selectively enforced on different populations. The government, for narrow political reasons, refused to act differentially according to risk. "The level of morbidity in different areas and different populations. The timing of the measures or their absence has aroused in the public a lack of trust and a grave fear of personal and non-material considerations on the part of the most senior political echelon."
He added: "Unfortunately, we have repeatedly seen that the recommendations of public health experts are considered a garlic peel for the government. The night closure on Hanukkah, which was finally rejected under public pressure, "Levin concluded.
The beginning of the age of doctors in politics?
Perhaps it is worthwhile, if it means putting the person at the center, ability to work as a team, empathy, social attitude, sensitivity to the needs of different populations, evidence-based and science-based decisions, willingness to work around the clock, concern for the public interest, overall perception and not narrow, planning
- Prof. Hagai Levin (@LevineHagai) January 1, 2021
A week ago he hinted at going into politics when he tweeted: "The beginning of the era of doctors in politics? Maybe it is worthwhile, if it means putting the person at the center, ability to team work, empathy, social attitude, sensitivity to different populations, evidence-based decisions and willingness to work around the clock "Concern for the public interest, overall perception and not narrow, planning."