High Court gives IMA, Treasury week to reach agreement
Beinisch: "Israel Medical Association's behavior does not arouse faith, this is no way to negotiate."
dorit beinisch 311 Ariel Jerozolimski(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)ByJPOST.COM STAFF, JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICHDuring a discussion on the subject, the High Court on Monday criticized the Israel Medical Association's (IMA) conduct during negotiations with the finance and health ministries. Supreme Court President Judge Dorit Beinisch said "the IMA's behavior does not arouse faith, this is no way to negotiate."The High Court decided on Monday to give doctors and representatives of the Finance Ministry another week to try to reach an agreement that would end the sanctions affecting the health system. At the end of the week there will be another hearing before the High Court and the different parties will present the progress made. RELATED:'Resolving doctors' labor dispute won't fix healthcare'Beinisch: Doctors not interested in talks"Both sides wanted a few more days, and both reported some progress," said Beinisch, "We hope to avoid a further strike by the IMA and to begin productive negotiations."Last week, IMA chairman Dr. Leonid Eidelman said that although progress has been made in negotiations with the Treasury on the doctors' work dispute, sanctions would continue in hospitals and clinics until a final agreement is reached."We have many more issues on the agenda," Eidelman said in an interview with Army Radio.After 137 days of a bitter labor dispute between the Treasury and the Israel Medical Association and a 10-day hunger strike by Eidelman, a breakthrough was reached in negotiations last Wednesday night that enabled the hungry physician to eat again.For the first time, the two sides issued a terse joint statement with the outline of a negotiated agreement. The statement disclosed that 1,000 extra job slots for physicians would be allocated to the public hospitals.In addition, the number of night and weekend shifts of 26 hours in a row would be reduced to six per month. This process would “begin immediately and be spread over the next two years,” it said.The joint statement also reported that funds would be allocated “immediately” to make grants of “up to NIS 300,000” per physician who agrees to work in the periphery of the country and in medical professions in which manpower is scarce.There was no mention of whether doctors who are already living and working in hospitals and clinics in the periphery would be compensated as well.Herb Keinon contributed to this report.RECOMMENDED STORIESHow is Iran still launching missiles at Israel despite Israeli airstrikes?JUNE 16, 2025IDF pummels Tehran with heavy fire, 50 Israeli fighter jets take part in attacksJUNE 15, 2025A volcano ready to blow: Middle East erupts with Israeli strikes on IranJUNE 15, 2025Starlink operating in Iran, Elon Musk says, as Islamic regime shuts internet downJUNE 14, 2025Hot OpinionNow is the time for a unity government to provide clarity within the chaosByJPOST EDITORIALAs Iran vows our destruction, Israel unitesByYAIR LAPIDFive takeaways from the bomb shelter: Reflections on the Israel-Iran WarByDAVID BRINNIsrael strikes Iran: Strategic success or start of an uncertain future?BySUSAN HATTIS ROLEF