Israel: Information on medical services available to non-Israeli

The following information was provided during a 26 May 1996 interview with the director of an organization called Light to the Nations. The purpose of the organization is to help children who are not Israelis to receive medical care in Israel, not necessarily children who are not Jewish but who are not Israelis. The term Israeli covers Jews, non-Jews, Arabs and Christians alike.

Background

The organization, created in December 1994, is a voluntary association. There are, officially, eight or nine members for legal purposes. We have had many others who have collaborated with us when there has been a need to help a particular child. The organization is equally divided between donors outside of this country and inside. The Chairman has contacts among many Christian groups and churches outside the country. Also, in the country, Christian groups as well as some Jewish synagogues have assisted our organization. There is a fairly significant segment of the population here that is receptive to the idea of helping outsiders even those without any Jewishness or legal status. Emergency appeals have been made, sometimes through the media, sometimes through the large language newspapers and people have responded. Not anything on a big scale. The first day the total income was approximately US$ 75,000.

People in Israel get to know our organization just through word of mouth.

Immigrants and Citizenship

If they do not receive citizenship, perhaps, in some cases they would receive permanent residence.

The vast majority of Olim who come and receive citizenship may not be Jews themselves but they may have a Jewish grandmother, grandfather, husband or wife. Often, in their identity documents, the nationality would be Russian, or perhaps Christian in some cases. That would not affect, in the least, their access to medical care in Israel. The important thing is once Olim have identity cards they have access to health care under the health insurance law. No one with an identity card, whether they are a citizen or a permanent resident, is denied medical care. Those who come as tourists are in a difficult bind. If there is no Jewish connection or if there is no way to get status in this country other than as a tourist then, like any tourist in any country in the world , you have a problem. Access to the health fund which is controlled by the government would not be available to a tourist.

Two years ago there was a Russian boy who was dying of leukemia. He and his mother had come here in the hopes of finding medical treatment although they did not have any Jewish connection and had no hope of getting status here. The government could have helped them but they would not permit him to go into the hospital unless they paid in advance, a huge amount of money in this boy's case. But, together with both Jewish and Christian individuals and organizations, money was raised for this boy and he got his treatment. He went back to Russia. Since then the organization has been working with other children, some from Russia and the former Soviet Republics, a girl from Jordan, and now children from the territories in Gaza. But the common factor for all of them is they have no legal standing, no identity card, no residence or citizenship in Israel.

Cases per year

In the first year, 1995, there were probably seven or eight children who were dealt with seriously. This year the number is going to be much higher..

Russian immigrants

As soon as they get off the plane, all new immigrants are given an immigrant document and are enroled in a health fund. From that moment, they have no medical problems unless they need a special transplant because the transplant programs in Israel are still being developed. Basically, every medical service is provided to every immigrant. Some areas of medical services are not covered, such as eyeglasses and dental care, and that can be difficult for some immigrants. There has never been a case where services were refused because of religion or nationality.

There are segments of the population that do have prejudices against new immigrants from the former Soviet Union, but they are the minority among the more religious Jews. At the same time, there is a large counter-segment of the Israeli population that is very vocal about defending the rights of Christians and non-Jews. There is also an association for civil rights as well as several human rights defenders active in the country.

Help from the Government

The organization has asked government hospitals to lower the rates for patients who are tourists as there is a two-tiered system in terms of payments for medical services. Israelis (i.e. anyone with an identity card) pay a low rate for medical services while tourists would be charged double for the same treatment. The rationale for this is that the Israeli authorities are afraid they will be overwhelmed by foreigners coming for our cheap medical care.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Reference

Light to the Nations, Jerusalem. 26 May 1996. Interview with the Director.