The senior officials of the health system finished the emergency meeting tonight (Thursday), in which they discussed the expected cuts, and announced: "We do not intend to remain silent, we will all go out together in the fight."
At the beginning of the meeting, there was unanimity that the NIS 5 billion cut in the health budget, which was promised as part of the coalition agreements, will lead the health system to the brink of an abyss and that must not be allowed to happen.
It was also agreed that if the budget is passed with the cut, there will be a joint struggle without compromise.
"We are in dire straits"
The Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Sefi Mandalovitz, said that he understands the feeling that this is the moment of truth for the health system.
According to him, as great as the expectations are, so great is the anxiety and that an amount is planned that does not come close to the addition of the 5.8 billion shekels that they committed to give, on the basis of which the ministry's plan to deal with its real difficulties was built.
Moshe bar Siman Tov, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
"The Ministry's plan was to deal with the severe shortage of doctors, nurses and the health professions - we are in dire straits in all of them," he said, clarifying that there is a clear plan to deal with all the problems and all that is required is the budget and we will know how to run.
"We are not going to be silent"
Prosper Ben Hamo, chairman of the Klalit workers' organization, said: "We do not intend to remain silent and we will all go out together in this struggle - the time has come.
If there is no choice, we will shut everything down.
If the state doesn't want to take responsibility, don't throw it at us."
He also said: "Without the budget that was promised to the citizens, there will be no medicine, there will be no medicine for the sick. We will be in chaos that will lead to disaster. Already today there is a shortage of pharmacists, brothers and sisters, imaging workers, physical therapists, doctors. Private medicine will also collapse. We did not come to speak, but to warn - We will act, not remain silent. NIS 5.8 billion is the minimum, we will not give up."
"It is not possible for patients to wait seven hours in the emergency room."
Ministry of Health, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Ilana Cohen, chairman of the Brothers and Sisters Association, added: "We all need to unite together.
It is not possible for patients to wait six or seven hours in the emergency room, then go up to the ward to win a prize to be hospitalized in the corridor.
We don't have to work like this.
We must not continue to work this way.
Every citizen deserves to receive adequate treatment.
A cut in the budget of the health system is a cut in human life"
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