Israel’s Minister of Finance, Moshe Kahlon and Dep. Minister of Health, Rabbi Yaakov Litzman, signed a ground-breaking $350 million dollar agreement with Professor Yitshak Kreiss, Director General of Sheba Medical Center (Tel Hashomer) on Monday, to transform Israel’s largest medical facility into a “City of Health”.

“Today is not only a day of celebration, it is a historic moment,” said Professor Kreiss at the festive signing ceremony, which took place at Sheba. “We are celebrating Sheba’s 70th anniversary along with the State of Israel. During these 70 years, we have built an empire in every sense of the word. We have been the flagship of the health system in Israel and have also played a significant role in research, whether in times of peace, national emergencies and war. Now it is our turn to take this flagship enterprise into the next decade, to peer into the future and create the vision that will define the health system in Israel and make an impression on a national and international level, not just in patient care, but also in advanced technology, research and innovation that will foment the future of medicine in Israel.”

He added, “We can’t accomplish our goals in the same way as before-one more bed, one more doctor, one more department and one more building. We don’t need simple, cosmetic changes. We need a revolution…a transformation. We are happy to take upon ourselves a true revolution in the health system and place the cornerstone on the future of medicine. The vision of the City of Health is predicated on not just treating a sick patient but rather dealing with a complete diagnostic sequence based on individual personalized care, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. The City of Health will encompass state-of-the-art rehabilitation, general, children’s, cancer/malignant disease and geriatric hospital’s… a first-class health prevention center, advanced research laboratories, as well as hi-tech biomed, pharma and innovation centers that will house dozens of start-ups focusing on everything from new medical treatments to digital/tele-medicine, as well as a top-notch academic research center for medical professionals and scientists. In addition, several new housing facilities will be built for Sheba’s growing number of medical interns and other staff members. All of this would only be just a dream if the State of Israel didn’t believe in our ability to make this dream become a reality. I’d like to thank both the Minister of Finance and Deputy Minister of Health for believing in us. I promise, we won’t disappoint you!”

Minister of Finance Kahlon related, “Mr. Kreiss, your vision of what this hospital should become provides you with the ability to make Sheba one of the best hospitals not just in Israel and the Mideast, but also on an international global scale. What particularly has impressed me with Sheba is that you don’t need to be a millionaire to receive high-quality care, particularly in a public hospital. This City of Health pilot will undoubtedly be the model for the rest of Israel’s health care system.”

Dep. Minister Litzman claimed, “Today, truly is an historic moment. There is a real opportunity to push forward into the future of medicine and I’m happy, the Ministry of Health is doing this program with Sheba.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)