Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman said Wednesday that Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon had transferred more than NIS 1 billion and has no idea where the money had disappeared, claiming that the Ministry of Health had not received the money.

“I was astonished to read this morning your statement that NIS 1 billion was transferred to the Ministry of Health for psychiatry,” Litzman wrote in his letter to Kahlon, “I assume you are aware that as of this date you I am already conducting a comprehensive investigation.

Litzman added, “I was recently surprised to find that now the professionals in your office are demanding that this sum also paid for the relocation of the geriatric hospital, Shmuel HaRofeh to the Shamir Hospital complex, which is in sharp contrast to the budget conclusion and of course will not leave resources for the psychiatric system.”

In conclusion, Litzman writes, “I would be happy if you would instruct your ministry to transfer the NIS 2 billion that you referred today so that we can bring about the necessary change in the mental health system.”

Litzman’s letter came in light of Israel’s exposure this morning, of a recording in which Minister Kahlon was asked about the great distress in the psychiatric hospitals, and he replied: “A year ago I transferred NIS 1 billion to the Director General of the Ministry of Health for psychiatry, and I am the one who counts the money, and then it’s passed along. And suddenly I hear no money, so I decided to move an extra budget and gave another billion shekels. And apparently again the money did not reach its destination. Kill me, I do not know where all this money goes.”

Minister Kahlon added: “The director-general of the ministry Siman Tov says that he is responsible for transferring the money, and I trust him, because I do not understand medicine, and I am truly sure that he is transferring the money. But suddenly psychiatrists come to me and say they have not even given them a shekel.”

The Ministry of Health said in response to the Yisrael Hayom report: “Contrary to the claim, the NIS 1 billion promised for the construction of the psychiatric institutions was not transferred to the Ministry of Health by professionals at the Ministry of Finance. A budget for the psychiatric system, which, like the rest of the system, urgently needs significant additional resources.

“Regarding the standards, the Ministry of Finance has transferred 100 nursing positions to psychiatric hospitals and an additional 50 have been agreed to but have yet to be budgeted by the Ministry of Finance, and we agree that additional standards are required in budgetary discussions with the formation of the new government.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)