Israel Approves 2027 Health Basket Committee With NIS 650M Budget

Israel's Health Ministry announced yesterday (Sunday) that the composition of the committee responsible for expanding the country's health services basket for 2027 has been approved. The committee will have a budget of NIS 650 million to consider the inclusion of new medications and medical technologies in the publicly funded healthcare system.

The committee will review hundreds of new drugs and technologies and recommend which should be added to the health services basket. Its decisions will be based on medical, professional, social, and economic considerations, with the aim of expanding the treatment options available to patients across Israel.

Health Minister Chaim Katz said: "A strong public health system must allow patients to receive advanced medical care, regardless of their financial means. In recent years, 650 million shekels have been added to the health basket annually. This additional funding strengthens the services the state provides to its citizens and will help narrow gaps in access to new drugs and technologies."

Health Ministry Director General Moshe Bar Siman-Tov emphasized the importance of the committee's work for patients awaiting access to new treatments.

"Behind the work of the health basket committee are many patients for whom access to new drugs and technologies can improve quality of life and even save lives. The Israeli healthcare system is committed to providing the public with advanced, high-quality, and equitable medical care, and the committee's work is one of the central tools for fulfilling that commitment."

He added: "The members of the committee bear significant public and professional responsibility, requiring complex decisions and a balance between many medical needs and limited resources. I thank the committee members for their willingness to take on this important responsibility, and I am confident they will act with professionalism, sensitivity, and responsibility for the benefit of all Israeli citizens."

Members of the 2027 Health Services Basket Committee

The committee will be chaired by Prof. Dina Ben Yehuda, director of the Hematology Division at Hadassah Medical Center. Prof. Osnat Luxenburg, head of the Medical Technologies, Information and Research Division at the Health Ministry, will serve as the committee's coordinator.

The committee members are:

• Dr. Dov Albukrek: Deputy director of the Medical Division, Meuhedet Health Services.

• Dr. Suheir Assady: Director of the Nephrology Department, Rambam Medical Center.

• Dr. Lilach Dolev: Chair of the Exceptions Committee and director of health basket resources, Clalit Health Services.

• Prof. Yigal Haas: IVF Unit, Sheba Medical Center.

• Chaim Hofert: Head of the Economics, Regulation and Innovation Division, Health Ministry.

• Yoav Hecht: Health coordinator, Budget Department, Finance Ministry.

• Prof. Shlomo Vinker: Head of the Medical Division, Leumit Health Services.

• Prof. Chaim Lotan: Director of Innovation, Hadassah Medical Center.

• Dr. Daniel Landsberg: Medical director, Maccabi Health Services.

• Prof. Miriam Markowitz-Biton: Faculty of Law, Bar-Ilan University.

• Rabbi Meshulam Nahari: Former minister in the Finance Ministry.

• Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Rimon: Head of the Sulamot, Shagririm BaLev and La'Ofek organizations.

• Tamar Chin: Housing coordinator, Budget Department, Finance Ministry.

• Hadassah Relevag: Founder of the Institute for Medical Engineering and Medical Devices, Hadassah Medical Center.

• Neria Shtauber: Deputy director general for Pricing, Budgeting and Planning, Health Ministry.