Clalit HMO hoped that the current period, after two years of epidemic, would be much quieter and more relaxed.
In practice, and as first revealed in the "Israel of the Week" investigation, Clalit's huge ship has undergone a major shake-up in recent weeks, including a rupture in the relationship between Ralbag and Locker, tensions at the top of the organization and at the end of Clalit's third departure since January 2020.
Ralbag, 61, took office just nine months ago and was the first CEO to be appointed by board chairman John Locker.
Locker, who was previously chairman of the board of directors of ICL, recognized her there as a director and persuaded her to be appointed CFO of Clalit, to the displeasure of the then CEO, and she soon became the director of the organization.
Ralbag previously held many key positions in the field of health: she was Deputy Director of Planning and Budgeting at the Ministry of Health, Chief Financial Officer at Ichilov and Shaare Zedek and Deputy Director General at Clalit. In the State of Israel's deal with the corona plague, but in practice the fund got into an ugly conflict at the top that ended, as mentioned, with dismissal.
The fund is talking about a crisis that began due to Locker's dominant management style, which used to interfere with the CEO's decisions and day-to-day work. The crisis worsened about a month ago.
The report states that Ralbag has confirmed a contract with the strategic and economic consulting firm MNS, even though her daughter has worked for the company for five years.
Ruth Ralbag, Photo: Rami Zranger
"This thing hit her three times. One time when they did not talk to her about it before they started the test, another time because there were two VPs who knew about this test and did not tell her, and a third time because they did not get her version about the chain of events."
However, Ralbag's entourage claims that she was sure she did the whole process "according to the book" - reported the conflict of interest in the tender and submitted a proper disclosure form.
According to her surroundings, the whole purpose of the test was to "turn a fly into an elephant."
A source familiar with the details said that "Ralbag did not think this tender would 'explode in her face'. But as soon as there is no good relationship with the committee, bad things happen.
"Relbag did not do anything that was not kosher and the tender went through a tenders committee. But the facts are that this is a company where her daughter is employed. And it is clear that reporting this is revenge of the committee in it. With Noaz Bar Nir. "
Yohanan Locker, Photo: Yaakov Mahagar
"Ruth Ralbag has a 'built-in self-destruction mechanism,'" describes a former health ministry official who worked with her.
"She is a very brilliant girl, professional and energetic, but very forceful. Because she likes to be involved in everything, she 'sells' someone for the sake of success in negotiations and has to step on people."
Another source in the organization described how significant the tension between Relbag and Locker has been in recent weeks: "The CEO and chairman of the board have not been talking for three weeks, and there is great tension between the parties. Relberg and Locker had to participate in a tour of Haifa and new clinics. "The tour was canceled for the reason that they are not even willing to approve summonses. It is a complete disconnect in the general management. A visit to another district was also canceled for the same reason," says a source familiar with the details.
The general management says that the tour of Haifa was canceled for other reasons and notes that joint meetings are being held.
Clalit does not yet know who will be the next CEO of the organization, but there is no doubt that the same person is about to face a system that is in a chaotic situation - due to struggles at the top of the organization and instability, work plan approvals and budgets have been damaged. , Dealing with a plan to build another hospital in the south that will compete with Soroka, struggles between the transplant departments in Beilinson and Sheba, plans to freeze emergency medical centers (centers) in the Tel Aviv area, a plan to build an unprepared multidisciplinary clinic in Tel Aviv and a new hospital tower Ten floors in Beilinson In this case, the works were stopped after the designation of the floors in the building was changed several times.
In addition, since Locker took office in early 2020, Clalit has been losing policyholders.
A market share of 53.9% has fallen overall in recent months to 53.03%.
This means the loss of about 90,000 insured persons.
Another issue that worries the general management is related to Kaplan Hospital in Rehovot: The Central District Fraud Investigation Unit in the police is investigating a suspicion of bias in tenders amounting to millions of shekels.
Last month it was reported that a senior in the field of logistics and procurement at the hospital, as well as another senior and ten employees, were questioned on suspicion of biasing tenders in the field of maintenance.
After Ralbag's resignation, these problems and other problems in general, are about to become quite a headache for the next strong man in the HMO.
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