Health officials outraged by Bibi's failure to appoint health minister
Government office with third largest budget to be headed by UTJ member in capacity of deputy minister; 'personally I'm offended, both as an Israeli citizen and a public official,' senior Health Ministry figure says
Benjamin Netanyahu's government will be sworn in Tuesday afternoon, but although it is set to be the largest government in the history of Israel, one of the major and most important portfolios seems to have been forgotten.
Health officials were stunned to discover that while new and creative posts have been invented in order to provide more MKs with jobs, none has been appointed health minister.
The post will apparently be given eventually to one of the members of United Torah Judaism (UTJ), apparently MK Moshe Gafni, who will serve in the capacity of deputy minister, as the party refuses to hold ministerial posts on ideological grounds.
The Health Ministry is the third largest office in Israel, and enjoys a huge NIS 24 billion ($5.7 billion) budget. But politicians are not keen on taking the post, which is considered less attractive and hardly guarantees future political gains.
In recent years the Ministry has faced repeated attempts to privatize significant public services, and has several other major challenges ahead of it, such as fighting for an amended medicine basket.
'Health system's role reduced'
Health officials have therefore hoped to see a strong, committed politician appointed to the position, rather than a person forced to accept it. No one believed that a deputy minister would be placed in charge of the important portfolio.
The deputy minister will not have the right to vote during cabinet meetings, including votes on the Economic Arrangements Law (intended to increase tax revenues), which may hurt the health system.
"There is a sense of frustration and bewilderment, to say the least, over the fact that no one wanted the third largest portfolio," senior Health Ministry official Yair Amikam said. "Personally I'm offended, both as an Israeli citizen and a public official. Many others in the ministry feel the same way."
Another senior health official said, "I can't imagine why no one would want such an important ministry, which deals in matters of life and death. Without a strong minister, the ministry will continue to deteriorate."
Shmuel Ben-Yaakov, a director at the Society for Patients Rights in Israel, said he was certain UTJ would do a "great job" running the ministry, but added "it is unfortunate that no one has any interest in the position. We are witnessing a process in which the Treasury is gradually reducing the health system's role."
