Healthcare System Dysfunctions

Doctors speak out More and more doctors are speaking out about the chaos prevailing in the public medical sector, particularly in Israeli hospitals. Among them, Dr Aviva Elad, a general practitioner and author of the recently published book "White Coat Deployed", shares her experience of the dysfunctions of the public healthcare system.

Dysfunctions of the public healthcare system

Dr Elad, having experienced these dysfunctions as a patient, explains that 30% of people who arrive at accident and emergency should never have had to come. They should have been treated through the standard circuit of general practitioners and specialists. She also denounces the pressure on doctors, who are subjected to relentless schedules. "Four minutes per patient," she says, "these are the directives issued by their respective hierarchies. How can a doctor examine their patient properly under these conditions?" The lack of time devoted to each patient pushes doctors to prescribe a battery of often unnecessary tests, just to move on as quickly as possible to the next patient. This creates unjustified waiting lists with specialists at the Kupot Holim, which becomes critical for those who genuinely need rapid care.

Testimony of Dr Ruthy Mamelouk-Charaf Dr Ruthy Mamelouk-Charaf, a doctor at Assaf Harofeh hospital, also shared her experience. Journalists from the daily "Yedioth Ha'jaronoth" followed her during a 26-hour consecutive shift. She describes the difficulty of practising her profession with bed occupancy at 130%, patients waiting for hours on stretchers in the corridors, and a glaring lack of resources. She must make crucial decisions despite her exhaustion.

The importance of private health insurance

Faced with these conditions, 3.5 million Israelis, often those who have seen their loved ones suffer, take out private health insurance. Such an insurance policy allows you to consult a specialist without waiting for weeks. Private insurance companies work with highly qualified doctors, guaranteeing high-level medicine.

If surgery is needed, the insured does not wait for weeks in the public system. They receive prompt care in Israeli private establishments, renowned for their hygiene and state-of-the-art equipment. The insured is operated on by the specialist of their choice, the one who has followed them from the beginning. Furthermore, the private circuit uses cutting-edge technologies, often inaccessible in the public sector.

Even the complementary plans of the Kupot Holim such as Mouchlam, Platinium, Cheli or Zahav do not cover these technologies without heavy financial participation. They do not provide access to these advanced treatments, unlike private insurance policies.

It is essential to understand that the objective of private insurance is not to cover optical or dental costs, but to provide a safety net for what the public system cannot offer. This includes decent waiting times for surgical interventions, care by medical elites, and access to the most effective treatments.

Faced with health problems, it is vital to focus on therapies and recovery without getting lost in bureaucracy. Those who have encountered the limits of the system understand the importance of private health insurance.

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