Children with cancer (such as leukemia) from the valleys and the Galilee have been forced for many years to receive a full diagnosis, treatments and advanced surgeries at the Schneider Children's Hospital in Petah Tikva, or at the Rambam Government Hospital in Haifa - and not at the Emek Hospital in Afula.
Many of them will have to do the same in the coming years, even though Clalit Hospital, the owner of the valley, is establishing a new and advanced cancer center ("Beit Shulamit") at the hospital.
This was revealed at the special meeting held last Thursday in the valley, which was attended by all the heads of employees in Clalit's 14 hospitals and their representatives, who announced their participation in the struggle of all department heads in the hospital against discrimination, discrimination and neglect of the valley. The hospitals in the north are owned by the Ministry of Health.
The valley serves a population of about one million Israelis in the valleys and the Lower Galilee.
The meeting took place at the initiative of Prosper Ben Hamo, chairman of Clalit Workers 'Organization, the largest workers' organization in the health system.
We intend to declare a labor dispute and sever ties with Clalit management, until we win this fight for the workers and patients. "
"Services have not progressed"
At the meeting, Dr. Gilad Chen, director of pediatric screening in the valley, referred to the establishment of Beit Shulamit, and said that Clalit boasts the most advanced cancer center in the country, but forgets to say that it is an adult cancer center.
The hospital has a pediatric oncology unit, but a child diagnosed with leukemia goes to Schneider Hospital in Petah Tikva, because we do not always have the ability to give the treatment here in the valley.
Shulamit House is supposed to be the most advanced, and all it will give children is a hostel.
The services have not progressed at all because there are no standards, and as far as the children's parents are concerned - this means that one parent has to stop working because the distances are so long and long.
Do you know what it is like for someone from Beit She'an to travel to Schneider on a daily basis? "
His brother-in-law: "When I hear that a child with cancer from Afula has to go to Schneider, I do not understand what country we have become. Economically - and everything is collapsing. "
Clalit said in response that "what has been said is blatantly sinful to the truth. The abusive statements towards managers, public servants who faithfully serve patients in general and residents of the north in particular with great dedication, are not based on facts. "The plan for the development of the valley, as well as all the other development plans and the unprecedented investment in the hospital in recent years, stands at more than NIS 360 million."
Were we wrong?
Fixed!
If you found an error in the article, we'll be happy for you to share it with us