Introducing the Tipat Halav Reform: Upgrade in Workforce and Reduced Waiting Time
Tipat Halav Reform: Operation and Maintenance by Health Funds and Municipalities, Workforce Enhancement, Infrastructure Strengthening, and Transition to New Facilities
The committee appointed to examine the functioning of the Tipat Halav centers has submitted its recommendations to the Ministry of Health. This morning (Sunday), the newspaper 'Yedioth Ahronoth' published the main recommendations of the committee.
The main recommendations are: the Tipat Halav centers will be operated and maintained by health funds and municipalities nationwide. The change is expected to be implemented gradually over several years. The new Tipat Halav centers will continually invest in staff training and infrastructure.
The committee also recommended that branches be established within or near community centers to make it easier for parents to reach them. Additionally, the service in each branch will be available to all health fund members, not just members of the operating health fund.
According to the recommendations, health funds and municipalities wishing to operate Tipat Halav centers will submit their proposals to the Ministry of Health, which will decide who is most suitable for the task. The franchise period will be granted for five years. At the end of this period, the Ministry of Health will evaluate whether to extend the contract, based on the operator's demonstrated capabilities.
In non-profitable locations where no proposals are submitted, compensation will be given to those who establish branches. If still no one is interested, the Ministry of Health will operate the Tipat Halav centers in these areas.
It was also decided that pediatric residents will receive their training in the Tipat Halav branches. The committee noted the reason for this: the staff of Tipat Halav doctors is shrinking, with an average age of 56.3, and only about 42% of them have recognized expertise in pediatrics.
The committee appointed to examine the efficiency of the Tipat Halav centers convened a few months ago due to the dire state of hundreds of Tipat Halav centers spread across the country: outdated buildings, fragile infrastructure, limited staff, and very long queues.
"We believe that the way to reach the ideal Tipat Halav is not by demolishing what exists, but through gradual changes that exploit the many advantages and the vast, distinguished experience accumulated in operating Tipat Halav centers," wrote the committee members in their summary report.
