Israel Boosts Northern Health Services With NIS 70 Million Investment
Translated & summarized from Makor Rishon by baba
The Israeli government has allocated an additional NIS 40 million to healthcare services in Kiryat Shmona, bringing the total investment to approximately NIS 70 million. This funding will expand the city's urgent care center into a 24/7 facility and add an intensive care ambulance. The initiative aims to improve access to medical care for residents of the northern region, who were evacuated after the October 7th attacks, and to encourage demographic growth.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli government increases health funding for Kiryat Shmona to NIS 70 million.
- Urgent care center to become 24/7 facility by January 2027.
- Additional NIS 40 million allocated for northern health services.
- New intensive care ambulance to be deployed to Kiryat Shmona.
- Funding aims to improve healthcare access for northern residents.
The Israeli government has approved a significant increase in funding for healthcare services in Kiryat Shmona and the Upper Galilee region, raising the total budget for health initiatives in the city to approximately NIS 70 million. This expansion is part of a broader government decision aimed at strengthening Kiryat Shmona, Metula, and Shlomi, particularly in the wake of the economic damage caused by the evacuation of residents following the October 7th attacks.
The additional NIS 40 million, allocated through the "Tnu'fa LaTzafon" Administration and the Ministry of Health, will ensure the continued operation of the city's urgent care center until the end of 2026. Currently, this center provides supplementary medical care during hours when health fund clinics are closed. Starting in January 2027, the center will transition into an independent, 24/7 facility accessible to all health fund members and soldiers serving in the area.
This enhanced medical response will include specialized urgent care physicians, X-ray services, and psychiatric support. Additionally, a new intensive care ambulance will be deployed to Kiryat Shmona to bolster emergency medical services in the region. The increased budget, initially NIS 30 million, was raised after a professional assessment of the system's needs and operational costs, as confirmed by a joint committee including representatives from the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of the Negev and Galilee.
Aviad Friedman, head of the "Tnu'fa LaTzafon" Administration, emphasized the importance of accessible healthcare for the North's growth, stating, "Available health is a basic condition for life and growth in the North. A resident in Kiryat Shmona or the Upper Galilee needs to know that they have available medical care at any hour, in routine and in emergencies, and not be dependent on the hours the clinic opens or closes." He added that the goal is to not only maintain existing services but to significantly expand them, thereby improving the quality of life for residents and encouraging demographic growth in the region.
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