Israel Appoints Health Basket Committee for 2027 Amid Budget Concerns
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Israel's Ministry of Health has appointed its 2027 Health Services Basket Committee, albeit with significant delays. The committee, allocated NIS 650 million, will review hundreds of new drugs and technologies. Chaired by Prof. Dina Ben Yehuda, it faces the challenge of balancing rising pharmaceutical costs with limited resources to ensure equitable access to advanced treatments for the public.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel's 2027 Health Services Basket Committee has been appointed after significant delays.
- The committee will review hundreds of new drugs and technologies for inclusion in the national health basket.
- A budget of NIS 650 million has been allocated, but faces challenges from rising global pharmaceutical costs.
- Key submissions include treatments for breast cancer, Alzheimer's, and pulmonary fibrosis.
- Prof. Dina Ben Yehuda will chair the committee for the upcoming review period.
Israel's Ministry of Health has appointed the Public Committee for Expanding the Health Services Basket for 2027, a process that is significantly delayed and faces a frozen budget. The committee is tasked with evaluating hundreds of new drugs and technologies, recommending their inclusion in the national health basket based on medical, professional, social, and economic considerations. The goal is to broaden treatment options for the public in Israel.
The committee will operate with a budget of NIS 650 million, the same amount allocated in previous years. Despite this substantial funding, the health basket has struggled to keep pace with global pharmaceutical innovation, often facing applications for extremely expensive treatments. The committee typically begins its deliberations in October, but last year, due to the absence of a permanent Health Minister, its appointment was delayed until November. This year, while convening earlier, the start is still considered late relative to the usual schedule.
Approximately 520 drugs and 35 technologies have been submitted for review this year. Notable submissions include groundbreaking treatments for breast cancer, Alzheimer's, and pulmonary fibrosis, as well as medications for obesity, vaccines, screening tests, and drugs for rare diseases. The committee will once again be chaired by Professor Dina Ben Yehuda, Director of the Hematology Department at Hadassah Medical Center, with Professor Osnat Luxenburg, Head of the Medical Technologies, Information and Research Division at the Ministry of Health, serving as its coordinator.
The committee's composition includes representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), and hospitals. Health Minister Chaim Katz stated that a strong public health system should provide advanced medical treatment regardless of financial ability, and the annual budget increase strengthens the state's response and reduces accessibility gaps. Director-General of the Ministry of Health, Moshe Bar Siman Tov, emphasized the committee's crucial role in ensuring advanced, quality, and equitable healthcare, acknowledging the complex decisions and balancing act required between medical needs and limited resources.
Mentioned
