In a significant achievement for the English-speaking community, Israel’s Health Ministry has directed all Kupot Cholim (health funds) to accept communications from patients to doctors in foreign languages. This follows pressure from Chaim V’Chessed and widespread backlash from English-speaking residents.
As previously reported by Chaim V’Chessed in December, Kupat Cholim Meuchedet had implemented a policy requiring all contact forms from patients to be filled out exclusively in Hebrew. This policy was met with strong opposition from English-speakers, who argued that it posed serious risks, particularly when it came to accurately conveying medical instructions and prescriptions. Chaim V’Chessed labeled the policy not only “unacceptable” but also “dangerous” for non-Hebrew speakers who might struggle with medical terminology.
In response to the outcry, Chaim V’Chessed reached out to the Health Ministry, which has now issued a new directive to all Kupot Cholim. Dr. Michal Schuster, director of the ministry’s Accessibility Department, sent a detailed letter instructing the health funds that foreign languages must not only be permitted in communications but are, in fact, required—especially for English, Russian, and Arabic.
This week, the directive was officially distributed to the heads of all Kupot Cholim, ensuring that non-Hebrew speakers will now have the ability to communicate accurately and effectively in their preferred language. Chaim V’Chessed has welcomed this decision as a major victory for the English-speaking community and praised the Health Ministry for taking action to improve accessibility.
“This is a crucial step toward ensuring safe and effective healthcare for all residents, regardless of their language abilities,” Chaim V’Chessed CEO, Paysach Freedman, stated.
The new policy is expected to ease communication barriers for thousands of English, Russian, and Arabic speakers in Israel’s healthcare system, significantly improving their ability to receive proper medical care.
{Matzav.com Israel}