Health Ministry: 50% of patients receive the wrong medication

"We love to complain about the Israeli healthcare system, but it is considered one of the best and most effective in the world, apparently in third place worldwide."

By SARA RUBENSTEIN
Updated: NOVEMBER 6, 2018 15:07
A worried mother and her child talking to a doctor. (Illustrative) (photo credit: INGIMAGE)
A worried mother and her child talking to a doctor. (Illustrative)
(photo credit: INGIMAGE)
Israel's Health Ministry warned that nearly half of patients being served in the healthcare system are not administered the right medication.
"About half of the patients in the healthcare system receive the wrong medication or the wrong dosage at the beginning of their medical treatment," said Health Ministry Director General Moshe Bar Siman Tov Tuesday at a conference titled "Implementing Policy in the Age of Big Data," held in the Knesset.
"This is because the healthcare system provides the same treatment to every patient according to a protocol," he added. "The challenge is to know how to connect between the health databases available in Israel, the best in the world, and the  the endless new health technologies."
"We love to complain about the Israeli healthcare system," Bar Siman Tov added, "but it is considered one of the best and most effective in the world, apparently in third place worldwide. Almost miraculously we succeed in providing excellent health services. The world is watching Israel. There is reason to be proud."