Health and Health Services in the Negev: Position paper presented to the TheMarker 2012 conference, to the sit on Accessibility and upgrading of public services and infrastructure in the Negev, December 08, 2011

Since the founding of the State of Israel, the Arab-Palestinian minority in the country has suffered systematic discrimination as compared to Israel's Jewish citizens in allocation of public funding and in access to services and conditions that are preconditions for a healthy life. This document outlines some basic disparities in allocation of specific resources relevant to health, and the resultant inequalities in basic health indicators, with special focus on the Bedouin-Arab community in the Negev desert in southern Israel, which has the lowest health indicators in the country. Factors such as poverty; discriminatory budget allocation; access to education, employment and safe housing; and access to basic services including clean water, sanitation and electricity, are known to be health-defining factors. Their restriction ultimately results in significant health inequality between Jews and Arabs.

Physicians for Human Rights-Israel welcomes the new and rigorous regulations adopted by the army, limiting the use of soldiers in medical experiments. Nonetheless, the organization saw fit to add: “It is unfortunate that the Knesset does not acknowledge this issue just as seriously as the army by promoting legislation, or by establishing the protection of soldiers as avulnerable population in the law statute.”

On August 22, 2011 representatives of Physicians for Human Rights-Israel visited the protest tent in Kalansawa, to express solidarity and support with Palestinian perspectives on the struggle for social and political justice.

The Public Network for the Advancement of Health Equity in Israel Demands National Plan for Closing Health Gaps

Although researches indicate that a rise of 10% in the number of certified nurses with a first degree reduced the risk of a patient to die during the 30 first days following a surgery, the profession still suffers from chronic shortage in human power. The shortage in more acute in the periphery.

Five civil society organizations in Israel have created a position paper outlining a social policy to reduce gaps in health status and health services.

Five civil society organizations joined forces to formulate a unique position paper that outlines the principles of a social policy designed to reduce the gaps in health status and in health services. In it, the organizations call on the Prime Minister to initiate a multi-dimensional national program to reduce health gaps (Photo: Melani Takpeman, ACRI)

The Israel Medical Corps accepted PHR-Israel's demand to reject experiments that have not been proven to benefit the soldier population; a set of directives will ensure that participants consent of their own free will.  For example, soldiers will be allowed to take a leave at home before consenting to participate in an experiment.

New Report by PHR-Israel Exposes Long Waiting Periods for Appointments with Specialist Physicians; Wait times Vary Drastically Among Communities and Health Funds