Health Ministry officials attribute the cut in emergency medical services to residents of Yehuda and Shomron through the end of 2014 is due to a lack of funds. As a result, Magen David Adom stations have been shut due to the ministry’s budgetary crisis, officials reported on Sunday Rosh Chodesh Kislev. Stations that have been shut due to budgetary crisis include Beit Aryeh & Ofarim, Shavei Shomron, Alfei Menashe, Dolev, Betar Illit, Jordan Valley, Tekoa and Givat Ze’ev. There are also partial cuts such as in Ariel, where a paramedic unit will continue operating but basic life support EMT units will not operate. The common denominator is that the residents of these communities and areas will not receive prompt EMS response from MDA as a result. These areas are still served by Ichud (United) Hatzalah, which does not depend on government funding or client payment to maintain itself.
Magen David Adom volunteers will do their best to keep the units in the areas mentioned operational as paid employees will not be receiving salaries for those areas.
MDA officials explain that have made repeated attempts to contact the relevant officials and to warn this was inevitable due to the bleak fiscal picture. The EMS organization explains the ministry is not paying it for services as request and it can no longer run without funding, which was the case for a period of time but now, it is compelled to stop operations in the stations until such time the ministry transfers the necessary funds.
Ynet quotes MDA Chief of Operations Gil Moskowitz explaining 10.24 million NIS was required but the agency only received 5.6 million NIS, compelling the closure.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
This is the “robust” Israeli economy you brag of, Monsieur Lapid??? Stop filtering funding into nonsensical places. The money is there. Go and find it!!!! Get MDA out in full force and in increased numbers.