Needy Holocaust survivors unaware of fund that covers ambulance costs

The MDA fund, initiated four years ago, assists patients in cases that are not paid for by the four public health funds, insurance companies or the National Insurance Institute.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
MDA ambulance dedication in Jerusalem (photo credit: MAARIT KYTOHARJU)
MDA ambulance dedication in Jerusalem
(photo credit: MAARIT KYTOHARJU)
On the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, Magen David Adom took the opportunity to remind the public of the organization’s special fund, dedicated to covering the costs of ambulance services for needy Holocaust survivors.
The MDA fund, initiated four years ago, assists patients in cases that are not paid for by the four public health funds, insurance companies or the National Insurance Institute.
Although, tens of thousands of aging survivors have been helped since the fund was established, many of those who meet the criteria to receive assistance are still unaware of the service, MDA said.
MDA is required by law to charge for all trips in ambulances, said MDA director-general Eli Bin, “but there are special cases in which a solution must be found to meet the needs of individuals, and especially those of Holocaust survivors. The State of Israel was established on the basis of the tragedy that happened to the Jewish People after World War II, and survivors who settled in Israel after the end of the war were full partners in its establishment and development. Therefore, we worked hard to establish the fund so they could get help from MDA teams. We will continue to do all we can to assist the tens of thousands of survivors who live here today.”