Binyamin Netanyahu
Binyamin NetanyahuFlash 90

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) released a statement Sunday defending Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s proposed cuts to the 2012-2013 budget.

The cuts will not affect medically necessary staff and equipment, PMO administrators said. “It’s important to note that the health services provided by the state and the kupot cholim [health insurance providers – ed.] will not be harmed,” they said.

The change will affect the Health Ministry’s budget for administrative staff, they said.

Earlier in the day medical union officials, doctors’ representatives, hospital administrators and other senior health officials sent a letter to Netanyahu calling to rescind the cuts. The writers warned that the healthcare system is already short by 9 billion shekels, and argued that the public healthcare system is already in dire straits.

PMO administrators defended the government’s record on healthcare. “Over the past three years the government has carried out a healthcare revolution for the benefit of the citizens of Israel,” they said.

“A long-term salary agreement was signed with doctors and nurses, emergency medical centers were set up in 12 towns in the Negev and Galilee,” they noted. “Nine hundred and sixty beds were added in hospitals, after no beds had been added since 2001. A medical school was established for the first time in 40 years, and more than 2 million shekels were budgeted for dental care for children under age 12.”