Israel's Education Ministry Pilot Replacing Allergy Support Staff with Nurses Sparks Legal Challenge

Israel's Ministry of Education has launched a pilot program in eight elementary schools, integrating nurses to replace medical education assistants who previously supported students with allergies. This initiative, which began with the new school year, involves nurses providing first aid, mapping student health needs, assisting with chronic illnesses, offering professional advice, and training staff and students in first aid. They will also administer vaccinations, conduct screening tests, and promote healthy lifestyles.

The move has drawn opposition from the Yehall Association, representing parents of children with allergies. The association argues that nurses, due to their physical distance from students, cannot effectively administer epinephrine auto-injectors during anaphylactic reactions or identify allergenic foods as well as the dedicated assistants. They contend that close, constant supervision is particularly crucial for younger children.

The Ministry of Education, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, stated that the pilot is based on the professional stance of the Israeli Association of Allergy and Immunology, which supports reducing the role of educational assistants and considering an alternative model with nurses. The ministry also cited instances where teachers or kindergarten staff administered epinephrine, or where allergenic food was not removed despite concerns raised by the assistants.

The Yehall Association has also raised concerns about the pilot's management, including the lack of a body to conduct the accompanying research and the implementation without parental consent, allegedly contradicting a previous directive. The ministry responded that a tender for the research body would close in late October, meaning research would start in November, two months after the pilot began. Parents were informed in August, and the directive would be amended.

Separately, the Israel Medical Association (IMA) has issued a position paper arguing against the current policy of prohibiting allergenic foods in educational institutions. The IMA claims this ban is unproven in preventing anaphylaxis, creates a false sense of security, and can lead to bullying and nutritional deficiencies for students with allergies, while also impacting the diets of other students.