are closed, because all doctors and nurses emmigrated to western Europe, for better salaries.

THis is a tragedy of immense proportions for those tens of thousands living in central Jerusalem both Jew and Arab that the hospital served so faithfully for years, the time it will take the ambulances to reach the Shaare Tzedek Hospital through nightmarish city traffice will cost the lives of many, this needs to be rethoughty

The doctors & nurses don't work for free. Treatment cost money Maintenance cost money. This is not the UK where every year government spends tens of billions on the NHS universal health system which helps keep hospitals open even when they are having financial difficulties in Israel we don't have that luxury so unfortunately if the place can't pay its bills it has to close.

Bikur Holim was a terrible place with lazy, uncaring, inattentive and demanding hospital staff who would rather make sure they get the 50 shekel fee from you or share jokes with other staff at the expense of patients rather than treat your ailments. I hope most of these incompetent and aloof staff do not find other work at Shaare Zedek and lower it's fine standards. It was a corrupt and substandard institution kept aloft by taxpayer fear of not having a hospital in the city center. When faced with the choice of Bikur Holim or a private clinic for which I had to pay from my own pocket, I choose the latter. Let the leaky ships sink and save the effort for the seaworthy vessels.