One again, the High Court of Justice is interfering in the decisions of government ministers and lawmakers, issuing a temporary injunction freezing the implementation of kupat cholim dental care for the nation’s children, bringing affordable dental care to all Israeli children.

 The opposition to Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman’s plan began when he allocated NIS 65 million from the national pharmaceutical basket towards his dental plan, resulting in opposition. Actually, some opponents explained they do not oppose the dental care plan, but it cannot be at the expense of the nationally funded medications basket, which is already in a dire fiscal state and if anything, the allocation must be increased, not cut.

A petition was filed with the Supreme Court by a number of organizations, including the Israel Medical Association, seeking to block Litzman’s move.  Siding with the deputy minister was ACRI (Association for Civil Rights in Israel), which praised the move for equal dental care for Israel’s children, but to no avail, at least not for the next month.

The court instructed the state to respond within one month to justify using NIS 65 million from the national pharmaceutical basket towards dental care.

Speaking with Kol Chai Radio following the court hearing, Litzman stated the court did not issue a temporary junction [contradicting all other reports], but an order to make certain the NIS 65 taken from the healthcare basket will be returned to the basket if the funds are not used for the dental care as planned.

Litzman explained by 31 March, he will submit a detailed plan to the cabinet and Knesset, emphasizing the court does not interfere with his plan and he is going to continue his tenacious efforts to bring affordable dental care to Israel’s children. He concluded explaining a steering committee is forging ahead with a detailed organized plan, and he remains optimistic that towards summer, his dental care plan will be operational.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)