Cautious optimism greets Gaydamak hospital deal

Bikur Holim Hospital doctors meeting Wednesday expressed "guarded optimism" about the impending sale of Jerusalem's 180-year-old hospital to Russian-born billionaire Arkadi Gaydamak, but they said they are still concerned about the need to get complete medical practice insurance to protect them against lawsuits. They said the hoped Gaydamak, who has offered $32 million for the hospital and said he wants to run it for at least 20 years rather than turning it into real estate development like other bidders, would meet all his commitments. Gaydamak has said he would hire all the current hospital staff.