Health Ministry Director Praises Public Health System's Resilience

Director-General of the Ministry of Health, Moshe Bar Siman Tov, lauded Israel's public health system at a conference marking 30 years of the National Health Insurance Law. He described the system, founded on principles of justice, equality, and mutual support, as a "medical miracle" and the "basic social contract" between citizens and the state. Bar Siman Tov highlighted that the system has faced "difficult tests" from ongoing epidemics and security crises, but these have only strengthened its foundations.

He specifically commended the heroic efforts of medical teams at Soroka and Barzilai hospitals on October 7th, the treatment of the wounded and released hostages, the rapid deployment of services for evacuees in Eilat and the Dead Sea, and the adaptation to working under fire in fortified locations. This performance, he noted, has earned the health system a public trust rating of 87%, the highest among all public bodies in Israel.

Bar Siman Tov emphasized the health system's role as a unifying force, bringing together Jews and Arabs, religious and secular, from the center and periphery, to treat all individuals based on a shared destiny. He stated that the health system will be a cornerstone in rebuilding and healing Israeli society post-war.

Despite continuous emergencies, the system has maintained its focus on routine care and long-term planning. Challenges such as an aging population, budget pressures, and staff burnout require vigilance. Bar Siman Tov stressed the importance of preserving the system's universal, comprehensive, and equitable nature, prioritizing infrastructure and service improvements over profit distribution.

He concluded by noting that even during emergencies, the system doubled medical student enrollment, invested in services for peripheral areas like the new hospital project in Be'er Sheva, and made mental health a central issue. He credited the doctors, nurses, and staff for bringing the law to life and pledged to uphold the health system as Israel's "moral and professional fortress" for the next 30 years.