Yaakov Litzman
Yaakov LitzmanHadas Parush/Flash 90

Health Minister MK Rabbi Yaakov Litzman (United Torah Judaism) told the Knesset Health Committee Monday that he intended to institute a change in regulation by including life-saving medicines in Supplementary Healthcare Services (SHS).

“It is no secret that for several years the health fund sits at 300 million shekels (77 million UDS), when the requests were for 2.5 billion shekels (640 million UDS). I do not see how the government, even if it gives a little more, will catch up,” said Litzman.

"Life-saving medicines must enter the SHS. Today there are life-saving medicines as part of private insurance companies, but I object to that. These medications do not belong to private companies, but for the entire public.”

Litzman noted that current SHS plans cover 76 percent of the population, "The majority will be covered. The rest are half rich and half poor. The rich have private insurance at their disposal, but the poor cannot buy SHS plans. I will make sure they receive life-saving drugs as if they have a SHS. I am willing to include that in the law,” stated the Health Minister.

Litzman intends to bring a bill changing the law on prescriptions to the Ministerial Law Committee for approval for legislation in the coming weeks.