The Ometz organization for Good Government wants to know why the Sharon family appears not to be cooperating with Sheba Tel HaShomer Medical Center, and has sent a letter to the Health Ministry’s Director General on the matter.
Two Points
Two points are raised in the letter: Gilad Sharon's use of hospital space for his private business, and the rejection of the Sharon family of a hospital request to transfer Ariel Sharon out of the hospital.
Ariel Sharon was serving as Israel’s Prime Minister three years ago when he suffered massive cerebral hemorrhaging and went into a coma from which he has not yet emerged. He has been hospitalized in Sheba’s respiratory ward since May 2006. In accordance with a Knesset Finance Committee decision, Sharon’s medical expenses are paid for by the State, despite the fact that this is generally not the case for “former ministers.”
Omertz Learned that Sharon's Son Opened Office
Ometz Director Aryeh Avneri wrote to the Health Ministry as follows, “Information that has reached Ometz in recent days indicates that Gilad Sharon, son of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, has turned a room in the respiratory ward at Sheba into his private office, in which he manages his private business, holds meetings with people, and generally acts as if it were his office.”
“It is not clear to us why the State must pay for this office. Ometz is aware of the Finance Committee decision regarding Sharon’s medical expenses, but we feel that that this office is not included in the clause of the decision stipulating payment for ‘medical, hospital, and personal care services for the former Prime Minister.’”
“At the same time,” Avneri continues, “Ometz has also learned that the management of Sheba recently turned to the Sharon family and asked them to transfer Mr. Sharon from Sheba to the Sharon family home, with perpetual nursing care… The family refused the hospital’s request, and the matter has been frozen since then.”
The letter from Ometz states, “We are well aware of the character and activities of Mr. Sharon on behalf of the State of Israel over the course of decades, and this is the reason for the extraordinary flexibility and sensitivity shown by the hospital for Mr. Sharon and his family. At the same time, dialogue between the family and the medical staff is ongoing for the purpose of investigating the option of continued nursing and medical treatment in a non-hospital environment.”
“With all the respect that Ometz has for Ariel Sharon’s vast activities, it appears to us that these matters should be clarified at a high official level, and that the proper decisions should be made there.”