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Shoah survivors to receive 90% off medications
Government to provide partial subsidy of drugs for some 80,000 Holocaust survivors; cost of Initiatives estimated at NIS 50 million. Survivors laud decision, say took too long
After many bureaucratic hurdles and political decisions, Holocaust survivors in need of medication can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The government is expected to vote within the next few weeks on an initiative that will grant some 80,000 Holocaust survivors medications free-of-charge. At the first stage of the plan, and until all the details are settled, survivors will receive a 90% discount off pharmaceuticals.
Until the full subsidy takes affect, eligible persons over the age of 75, which constitute more than 80% of all Holocaust survivors, will be required to pay NIS 100 (about $27) for all the medication they require on a regular basis.
Those who are younger will be asked to pay a maximum amount of NIS 125 ($33) a month. The initiative, approved by Welfare and Social Services Minister Isaac Herzog, will estimated to cost some NIS 50 million ($13 million) annually, and will be covered by Holocaust survivors' services basket budget.
The Welfare and Social Services, Finance and Health ministries reached an agreement over the details of the plan in the days prior to Passover.
Meanwhile, deliberations will continue with representatives of the claims committees and The Company for Restitution of Holocaust Victims Assets in order to bring the plan into action as soon as possible and give holocaust victims full subsidy of medication.
If everything goes a planned, the plan will be implemented within three to five weeks, after transferring the eligible list of names to all health maintenance organization (HMO),
The plan offers a solution to elderly people who often pay more than NIS 1,000 ($270) a month for their medication. The survivors will receive discounts at all HMO pharmacies, at a rate of up to 90% according to age and consumption parameters.
Minister Herzog said he hoped the initiative will help survivors cope with their large medical expenses. "Ahead of Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day, this is the duty of the State and a basic act of solidarity," he said.
Welfare Ministry Director-General Nahum Itzkovitch, who also heads the services basket committee said, "We worked on this initiative for over a year, and it is mainly aimed at assisting holocaust survivors so that they don't need to choose between purchasing essential medication and other needs. We are making the utmost efforts to pursue other agreements in order to broaden the assistance."
'Israeli invention meant to save money'
Holocaust survivors welcomed the initiative, but expressed hope that the plan will be completed and provide full coverage of all medications as soon as possible. "I laud the decision, but am not as happy about it being given only to "first circle" survivors – those who were at the camps. When we were chased by the Nazis in Auschwitz, we stood in rows, not circles," said Zeev Factor, who spends over NIS 800 ($216) a month on medications.
"The circle concept is an Israeli invention meant to save money. Every Jew living under territories occupied by Hitler is considered a survivor because if they were caught – their fate would have been determined. These are old and sick people, and the medication expenses are extremely burdensome. If they were to be resolved, it will definitely help the survivors," he added.
Factor protested the initiative's prolonged process and said, "Only a year ago the government finally realized that it must address the holocaust survivors – but everything takes time, too much time."
MK Zeev Bielski (Kadima) said the initiative was a step in the right direction, but was not enough. "The government's decision from two years ago to give holocaust survivors full coverage of medication expenses must be fully realized," said the former chairman of the Jewish Agency.
"I regret that the money put forth for this purpose are not being considered by the Finance Ministry and as a result tens of thousands of holocaust survivors in dire economic situation will no be able to enjoy this benefit, which they are entitled to according to the government's decision," he said.
