Israel: composition of 2008 “health basket” committee criticized

Health Minister Ya’acov Ben-Yizri rejectedcriticism by the Israel Medical Association of the new members of thecommittee that will recommend new medications and medical technologiesfor the 2008 health services basket.   The health funds must provide these drugs and technologies to members who need them, at state expense.  IMA Chairman Dr. Yoram Blachar, a member of the new basketcommittee, attacked the choice of nominees and called the committee an”impotent” body chosen according to the Treasury’s directives.  “These are dark days for the health system,” he said, addingthat the IMA would consider whether to participate at all in thecommittee.  Blachar said that seven of the 16 members were state employeeswho might have a conflict of interest. In the previous committee, onlythree of 21 received their salaries from the government.  “There is no representative of patients’ groups, no socialeconomist, no expert for general ethics matters and no representationof many medical fields, such as family physicians. And there is nohospital director,” he noted.

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