The Society for Patients' Rights is a non-profit organization working for over twenty-five years helping patients and their family members to exercise their rights in the Israeli healthcare system. The organization is dedicated to leading the public struggle for the realization of these rights, raising public awareness, and imparting both knowledge and tools to exercise rights. The organization serves as an attentive ear to the public’s questions and inquiries regarding their rights, and actively assists in exercising rights. Alongside individual response, the organization provides assistance to other patients' organizations and acts as the coordinator of the coalition of over 80 patients' NGOs.
Main areas of activity:
Assisting individuals – providing a personal response to patients and family members' questions, helping them with the fulfillment of their rights by addressing the appropriate institutions on their behalf (advocacy).
We can be contacted by various means:
Hot Line: 03-6022034 | Email: [email protected]
Website: Contact Form | Facebook: Click here to reach our Facebook page | Organization Forum: Click here – to reach the organization’s forum on ‘Camoni’ website.
The organization’s Patients' Rights Center in ‘Sheba’ Hospital in Tel-Ha’shomer – The center assists patients, families, visitors and staff, and initiates activities for the empowerment of disadvantaged communities. The office is a situated within the ‘Ishiba’ center, located near the entrance to the outpatient clinics, open Sunday through Thursday 8am-3pm. You can also contact the center by calling: 03-5307000.
Information Regarding Patients' Rights: publication of comprehensive and clear information about the rights available in the healthcare system via articles, videos, Facebook posts, production of ‘Zchutonim’ – informative pamphlets, and lectures to various groups of the general public. A major principle is ensuring transparency of information and fulfilment of rights by the HOMs (Kupot-Holim) and the Ministry of Health.
Raising Public Awareness, Lobbying and Parliamentary Activity: The Organization works to raise public awareness to patients' rights issues in both the media, Parliament (Knesset) and relevant Ministries and public authorities, initiating changes in Laws and regulation and leading public struggles in patients' rights and their fulfillment.
Representatives of the organization regularly participate in Knesset committee meetings, and are involved in legislation amendments to extend services and ensure equal medical services for all sectors of population. Among the topics addressed recently by the organization: human experiments, a 2% permanent increase to the health services basket budget – the jurisdiction of the Healthcare Benefits Committee.
The Coalition of Patients' NGOs: The organization leads three coalitions of patients' organizations and is constantly working on expanding and consolidating their status in the public health-discourse in Israel.
The coalition of Patients' Rights NGOs – 80 patient-organizations acting together to promote the interests of the Israeli health system patients (expanding the healthcare benefits budget, the right to choose the medical institute to receive treatment etc.).
The coalition of Rare Diseases' NGOs– 40 patient-organizations of rare diseases, working together to raise awareness, regulate and promote the field.
The coalition of Mental Health NGOs – a joint activity of prominent organizations in the field of mental health in Israel, which is the “backyard” of the healthcare system. The forum is fighting to reduce inequalities in the provision of services as well as the eradication of stigma.
Recent Developments and Initiatives:
“5 Billion For Health” – a national emergency forum initiated by the organization. It includes a wide coalition of patient organizations, the Civil Service Doctors' Organization and the Israeli nurses' association. The forum was set up with the goal of changing the policy of “starving” the healthcare system, by adding 5 Billion ILS a year to the health budget in order to restore the public healthcare system. The forum has been active since early 2019, through all three general election campaigns, facing party leaders and decision makers.
‘Pre-Medication’ - Assistance in obtaining essential medicines that are not included in the health services basket budget. It is a unique service that includes vital information and hands-on accompanying of patients helping them fulfill the right to receive funding for medications (and diagnostic examinations). The service is provided by a professional team, with no cost or obligation on the part of the applicant. All applications are accepted and addressed. So far at least a third of the applicants have received the medications they needed.
Paid staff:
Naama Weiner – Executive Director
Michal Dalin-Frimerman – Director of the service center for Patient Rights, Sheba Hospital
Dorit K- Administrative Management
Professional consultants:
Scientific Advisory Council - The council advises the organization on Patient Rights affairs and works to promote its goals, including publishing position papers on issues on the public agenda and representing the organization in appropriate public forums. Among the members: Ms. Barkai Riva; Prof. Munitz Hannan; Attorney Tzadikario Daphne; Dr. Cot Edna; Attorney Kimchi Shalhav; Attorney Rubinstein Avi; Rabbi Sherlo Yuval.
Gilad Government Relations & Lobbying Ltd.
Goldfinger Communications and Strategy
Legal counseling: Adv. Avishai Feldman