Minister of Health Yaakov Ben-Yizri called on cancer patients to end their strike.
Israeli billionaire Sammy Ofer has offered 3.5 million shekels, apparently enough to fund a month's worth of treatment for the colon cancer patients. Ministry of Health officials stated that during the coming month, efforts would be made to resolve the problem.
One of the medications requested for inclusion in the official "medicine basket"is Erbitux. Although Erbitux is not a cancer cure, it has been able to prevent cancer metastasis and has been attributed with causing the cancer to go into remission.
Supporters of the cancer patients expressed their appreciation to Ofer for his generosity, but called for a comprehensive national solution to the problem. They want to ensure the accessibility of all new medications that have been proven effective and have been recommended by the pharmaceutical evaluation committee.
MK Shelly Yechimovitch (Labor) claimed that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the State of Israel were ultimately responsible for the lives and wellbeing of Israeli citizens and should not have to rely on donations from private bodies. Yechimovitch said that the government should be working to do everything in its power to make the medications available to the public, "instead of sending government ministers out to fundraise."
A solidarity rally for the patients was held in Carmiel, while dozens of people continue to frequent the main strike center in Jerusalem.
Israeli billionaire Sammy Ofer has offered 3.5 million shekels, apparently enough to fund a month's worth of treatment for the colon cancer patients. Ministry of Health officials stated that during the coming month, efforts would be made to resolve the problem.
One of the medications requested for inclusion in the official "medicine basket"is Erbitux. Although Erbitux is not a cancer cure, it has been able to prevent cancer metastasis and has been attributed with causing the cancer to go into remission.
Supporters of the cancer patients expressed their appreciation to Ofer for his generosity, but called for a comprehensive national solution to the problem. They want to ensure the accessibility of all new medications that have been proven effective and have been recommended by the pharmaceutical evaluation committee.
MK Shelly Yechimovitch (Labor) claimed that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the State of Israel were ultimately responsible for the lives and wellbeing of Israeli citizens and should not have to rely on donations from private bodies. Yechimovitch said that the government should be working to do everything in its power to make the medications available to the public, "instead of sending government ministers out to fundraise."
A solidarity rally for the patients was held in Carmiel, while dozens of people continue to frequent the main strike center in Jerusalem.