Politics and medicine: the case of Israeli National Health Insurance

The paper focuses on the attempts to introduce a national health insurance system in Israel. So far all these attempts advanced through six public committees and various legislative initiatives have been futile. The major actors involved in the process of NHI formulation are (a) the sick funds, the largest of which (KH) nearly monopolizes the health services; (b) political parties which are affiliated with the sick funds; (c) the Israeli medical association. The labor oriented parties and sick funds aimed for the introduction of an NHI system which would strengthen KH and preserve its autonomy. The right wing parties and sick fund advocated nationalization of the NHI. The IMA took a mid-way position not identifying with either of the parties. By allying with a small coalition party it was effective in impeding the legislative process that was initiated by the Labor Party. The vigorous opposition of KH has hindered the adoption of the Likud's version of the NHI. Hence, the issue, torn between conflicting parties, reached a stalemate which is not likely to be resolved in the near future.