There will be a dramatic change in the care of mental health in Israel: Deputy Health Minister Rabbi Yaakov Litzman (UTJ) announced in a press conference of a reform in mental health care starting July 1st. The encompassing change will be expressed in the transfer of the diagnosis and care of mental health issues from the authority of hospitals to that of the Kupat Cholim Health Funds. Consequently, the accessibility for treatment of such problems will be made far greater for those living in areas distant from the hospital care centers.
Rabbi Litzman: "Over four hundred million shekel have been transferred to the health system in order to implement the reform. We have established supervisory teams to monitor the progress thereof."
Beginning July 1st, the new reform in mental health services will go into operation, promising improvement in the care of and the consolidation of the various services within the public area itself as opposed to the hospitals. The domain of mental health will join the present local care of family health, pediatrics, ophthalmology, orthopedics, obstetrics etc.
