"We've heard that Hadassah Medical Center doctors have declared the end of private health practice, and we hope that the declaration is real," said Ministry of Finance Deputy Budget Director Moshe Bar Siman Tov today at a press conference with Minister of Health Yael German. In response to a question by "Globes", she said that Bar Siman Tov spoke for her as well.
German added that the remark also appears in the state's response filed today with the Jerusalem District Court in the stay of proceedings case and recovery plan for Hadassah. The government believes that the doctors' announcement is a bluff.
"We believe that abolishing private healthcare at Hadassah is a good thing and we hope that the doctors have realized that private healthcare is part of Hadassah's problem, not vice versa," added Bar Siman Tov. "Although private healthcare generates revenue for the hospital, it also caused losses and made it difficult to manage the hospital. That is why we are moving forward on the step that they announced."
Asked if the Hadassah doctors' announcement rendered the German Committee on private healthcare reform at public hospitals redundant, German said, "There is a point to the discussions. There is what to talk about. When an operative proposal comes, we'll discuss it. It is premature to harness the horses."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 13, 2014
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