A few dozen graduates of Al-Quds Medical School on Tuesday, 23 Menachem Av 5773 demonstrated outside the Ministry of Health and Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital demanding they be permitted to work in the capital. The doctors, residents of PA (Palestinian Authority) areas, explained that they are licensed to work in any country in the world with the exception of Israel. They told reporters that they do not seek a free pass, but they do wish to take the licensing exam to become certified to work in Israel.

A letter was recently submitted to Health Minister Yael German along with a letter of support from Physicians for Human Rights on behalf of the Arab doctors. The letter requests the minister reconsider a decision not to recognize the diploma from Al-Quds, which is located in the eastern capital. They add that the state’s refusal to recognize their training is also a blow to the Israeli health system for it is no secret that there is a serious shortage of doctors in Israel today.

Ministry of Health officials explain the situation is more complicated. The decision to recognize the medical school’s diploma is not in the hands of the minister, or even the ministry, but it is a matter for Israel’s Council of Higher Education, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education. The statement adds that the state attorney general is consulting with a number of ministries in the hope of finding a compromise solution.

The Council of Higher Education reports that it is currently evaluating a request from Al-Quds to recognize its medical school.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)