Health crisis: Medical residents okay agreement

Understandings with Finance Ministry win approval of 296 medical residents; 163 oppose. Legal advisors working on final paper

Neri Brener|Published: 12.07.11 , 15:45

Medical residents signed off on understandings reached with the Finance Ministry on Wednesday in a 296:163 vote. The parties are now expected to sign an agreement which will effectively end the 8-month crisis in Israel's public health system.

A statement issued by the residents said: "We shall honor the decision reached by the majority and stand behind the understandings."

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Earlier on Wednesday, some residents feared that a majority could not be reached in favor of the agreement but votes from the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center allowed them to green-light the move.

However, some residents still oppose the deal. "The Treasury has succeeded in burying public health in Israel," Dr. Avi Gadot from the Sourasky Medical Center said.

"Public medicine is just not profitable and that is why they (the Finance Ministry) don't want it. They want medicine for the rich which won't cost them a dime and yield profits," he added.

The parties are slated to sign the agreement later on Wednesday as legal advisors continue to review the papers. Upon the signatures, the residents will withdraw their letters of resignation.