An Agreement is Reached

After a long and complex struggle, a ground-breaking agreement was reached for public medicine.

After more than five months of a difficult and complex fight, and the management of intensive negotiations, on Thursday the 25^th August 2011 a breakthrough agreement was signed for Israeli public medicine.

The Israeli Medical Association and representatives of the Treasury signed a new collective agreement, which will change the face of the public health system.

Under the agreement, there will be significant additions to the health care system:

• The addition of more than 2.5 billion NIS in funding  
• 1,000 new doctor positions in public hospitals   
• Limit the number of resident on-call shifts to 6 a month 
• Salary increases between 32%-80%  
• 49% increase in average hourly wage  
• Very significant salary increases for doctors working in the periphery, and a one-time grant of 300,000 NIS for doctors who move to the periphery  
• Salary supplements and special grants for doctors who choose to work in specialties with a severe shortage of up to 300,000 NIS 
• 20% of the increases will go into effect immediately, and 70% will be phased in the next 3 years. 

Dr. Leonid Eidelman, President of the IMA stated: "We set out to bring about change in public medicine in Israel and I'm proud to say that we achieved the goal."

"The road was not easy. But throughout the journey we believed in ourselves and the importance of the goal we set."

"In fact, the change we made to the concept: those who work more will get more. Those who invest more in public medicine will earn significantly more.  This will assure that the people of Israel will receive better quality of medicine in a more equal health system."

"It is important for me to thank the multitudes of doctors who persevered with the demonstration and took an active part in the long fight. I also send my thanks and deep appreciation to the Israeli public and patients, who stood behind the doctors and showed us their support and tolerance. You have given us the power to bring about a real change".