fbpx

Groups outline ways to reduce health gaps in Israel

Five civil society organizations in Israel have created a position paper outlining a social policy to reduce gaps in health status and health services.
[additional-authors]
June 14, 2010

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

In the paper released Monday, the organizations— the Adva Center; Physicians for Human Rights-Israel; the Association for Civil Rights in Israel; the Galilee Society-Arab National Society for Health Research and Services; and Tene-Briut for the Promotion of the Health of Ethiopian Israelis—called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to initiate a multi-dimensional national program to reduce health gaps.

According to the paper, significant health disparities have been found between Jews and Arabs, between longtime residents of Israel and newcomers from Ethiopia and, within each of these groups, between those receiving income support payments and others. Gaps have been found also between the center and periphery of the country, and between the population groups residing in these areas. The disparities have been increasing rather than decreasing, the paper asserts.

The paper calls for an annual Health Gaps Report to be presented to the Knesset, including an update on health disparities, a delineation of the official goals for the reduction of the disparities, and the progress that has been made by the various ministries.

The report looks at the health disparities in various populations for four common illnesses: diabetes, heart disease, breast cancer and depression/anxiety.

Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.

Editor's Picks

Latest Articles

A Bisl Sukkot ~ Don’t Be Afraid, Go Outside

The sukkah reminds us to go out into the world, especially when the comforts of insularity beckon us closer—to explore paths we have yet to take and seek journeys ready for wandering.

A Harira Hug in the Sukkah

I love making soup for this holiday because even if the days are still warm, the cooler evenings make you start craving something warm and comforting.

The Beat Goes On

While so much of the world seems obsessed with and consumed by its hatred of Israel and Jews, Israelis continue to build, create, work, celebrate, argue, raise families, and plan for the future.

Viral AI Video Targets Jewish Comedian

“The biggest concern is that people now have a pathway to shut down Jewish voices through complete falsities that people will believe. … For the future of Jewish entertainment, it’s very scary.”

Yiddish Historians: Writing in Their Own Language for Their Own People

Mark Smith has compiled an important anthology of Jewish history using 49 works by Yiddish historians to recreate or at least open the door to a world of Jewish thought that was once almost mainstream, but which no longer exists, except in the minds of too few specialists.

The Everlasting Melody

Most Jews who have sung “Eitz Chaim” over the past half-century probably never knew Portnoy. They did not know when he wrote the melody or how young he was when he composed it. They simply knew the song.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.