With no source of revenue in sight for the near future, Health Ministry officials are already beginning to prepare for a number of scenarios regarding Jerusalem’s ailing Bikur Cholim Hospital, including the closure of the pediatric and other wards that a major financial drains, or even the possibility of the total closure of the hospital, the only one located in the heart of the downtown area.

Is a buyer is not found really soon, someone capable and willing to infuse large sums of cash as Arkadi Gaydamak did, then the ministry will be compelled to implement one of the plans, possible the closure of the hospital.

What is making things increasingly complicated is the fact that Deputy Minister of Health (Yahadut HaTorah) Yaakov Litzman does not recognize the authority of hospital’s chairman, Dudi Zilbershlag, since he did not receive official notification from Arkadi Gaydamak that Zilbershlag is authorized to represent the medical institution. This is preventing Zilbershlag for accomplishing anything significant with the ministry as he continues efforts to prevent the closure of the hospital.

Zilbershlag is not taking the matter lying down, explaining he was never Gaydamak’s subordinate, explaining the board was around long before the Russian-born billionaire bought the hospital and it remains now that Gaydamak left Israel.

A ministry official explained he hopes a decision is reached before employees no longer receive their salaries, adding a plan already exists for the transfer of the patients to other facilities.

Another option is reducing or closing the departments that operate in the red, losing money, a move that requires Litzman’s approval. Departments that may close include pediatrics, ENT, surgery and internal medicine. These departments represent about one-third of the hospital.

In the meantime, a number of senior physicians and other medical staff have left in recent months, prompting the ministry to inspect to ensure the standard of care has not fallen below acceptable norms. It appears the hospital is operating on an acceptable standard, at least for now, with reports indicating there are ample supplies, including pharmaceuticals and other necessary equipment.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)