Israel Appoints Drug Basket Committee for 2027 With Unchanged Budget

Israel's Ministry of Health announced on Sunday, October 25, the formation of a public committee tasked with expanding the basket of medicines and medical services for 2027. The committee's establishment was significantly delayed and occurred without an increase in its allocated budget. The committee will review hundreds of new drugs and technologies, considering medical, professional, social, and economic factors to recommend which should be included in the national health basket, aiming to enhance treatment options for Israeli residents. As in previous years, the committee will operate with a budget of 650 million shekels. Despite this being a substantial sum, the drug basket has reportedly shrunk in recent years, failing to keep pace with global pharmaceutical innovations, with some proposed drugs priced prohibitively high.

The committee typically begins its work in October. In 2025, its formation was delayed due to the absence of a permanent Health Minister, commencing only in November. While the 2026 committee convened earlier, it was still later than scheduled. The annual review process involves an intensive three-month period with 10 to 15 working sessions.

This year, approximately 520 drugs and 35 medical technologies are under consideration. Notable candidates include groundbreaking treatments for breast cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and pulmonary fibrosis, as well as obesity medications, vaccines, screening tests, and drugs for rare diseases. Professor Dina Ben-Yehuda, head of the Hematology Department at Hadassah Medical Center, will chair the committee again, with Professor Osnat Luxemburg, head of the Ministry of Health's Medical Technologies, Information and Research Division, serving as coordinator. The committee includes representatives from the Ministries of Health and Finance, health funds, and hospitals, many of whom have prior experience. Among them are Dr. Dov Albukerk from Meuhedet Health Fund, Dr. Suheir Asadi from Rambam Medical Center, and Dr. Lilach Doleve from Clalit Health Fund.

Other members include Professor Yigal Haas from Sheba Medical Center, Chaim Hofert from the Ministry of Health's Economics, Regulation and Innovation Division, representatives from Leumit and Maccabi health funds, Hadassah Medical Center, a law expert from Bar-Ilan University, and a former minister heading charitable organizations.

Health Minister Haim Katz stated that a strong public healthcare system should provide modern treatments regardless of financial means, emphasizing that the annual 650 million shekel addition strengthens state aid and reduces disparities in access to new treatments. Director General of the Ministry of Health, Moshe Bar Siman Tov, acknowledged the difficult decisions the committee faces in balancing medical needs with limited resources, expressing confidence in their professional judgment for the benefit of all citizens.

However, Professor Nadav Davidovich from Ben-Gurion University and the Taub Center criticized the decision to maintain the budget at previous levels. He argued that keeping the budget at 650 million shekels, without adjustment for inflation or innovation, represents a real reduction that will leave many patients without necessary treatments. Davidovich pointed to a multi-billion shekel budget gap created by the lack of a consistent update mechanism for the basket, exacerbating inequality and pushing individuals towards private insurance.