Israel Allocates 650 Million Shekels for 2027 Health Basket Additions
Translated & summarized from Mignews by baba
Israel's Ministry of Health has begun the process of selecting new medications and treatments for the 2027 "health basket," allocating 650 million shekels for the initiative. An expert committee, led by Professor Dina Ben-Yehuda, is reviewing over 1,100 proposals. The goal is to balance essential care with innovative, costly treatments. Approved additions will be implemented starting January 1, 2027.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel's 2027 health basket budget is set at 650 million shekels for new subsidized treatments.
- An expert committee led by Prof. Dina Ben-Yehuda is reviewing 1,109 proposals for new medical technologies.
- The total cost of requested technologies far exceeds the allocated budget, requiring strict selection.
- Health Minister Haim Ketz stressed the responsibility to patients seeking state-funded medical aid.
- New health basket additions will officially take effect on January 1, 2027.
Israel's Ministry of Health has initiated a series of working meetings to determine the subsidized medications and treatments for the 2027 "health basket." An expert committee, led by Professor Dina Ben-Yehuda, is tasked with evaluating new therapies and diagnostic systems, with the state allocating 650 million shekels for these additions. The committee received 1,109 proposals from pharmaceutical companies, medical associations, and patient groups, with the total requested cost amounting to billions of shekels, necessitating a strict selection process.
Health Minister Haim Ketz emphasized the significant responsibility involved, noting that each request represents patients seeking state assistance. The ministry aims to balance essential services with the integration of costly innovative treatments. Director-General of the Ministry of Health Moshe Bar Siman Tov highlighted that the annual update reflects the robustness of Israel's public healthcare system. Experts must now find a compromise between life-saving medications, treatments for chronic conditions, and preventative medicine programs.
Professor Ben-Yehuda, who has chaired the commission for five years, acknowledged the challenges posed by the budget limit. She stated that evaluations will be based on evidence-based medicine, clinical effectiveness, and humanitarian considerations. The commission's working sessions will continue for several months, with final decisions expected by the end of the year, followed by approval from relevant ministries and the government. The new additions to the national health basket will officially take effect on January 1, 2027.
