Ash warns hospitals against delaying medical care to unvaccinated patients

• Author: MAAYAN JAFFE-HOFFMAN
• Published date: 27 September 2021
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

In a letter sent to hospital managers on Monday, Ash said that "a Green Pass check cannot be required at the entrance to the hospital," even for people coming for non-urgent care, because medical services are a basic right of citizens regardless of whether they were vaccinated or have tested negative for the virus.

He further added that it is a patient's right to have a caregiver if needed for assistance.

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"I am aware of the need and importance of taking steps to prevent coronavirus infections within the hospital," Ash said. "In general, such activity is required and welcome, but it must be done in accordance with the rules regarding the application of the Green Pass, which was not applied to medical institutions consciously and intentionally."

He did say that hospitals could request patients take rapid antigen tests before non-urgent medical procedures that could put service teams at risk and that they could offer unvaccinated patients to postpone performing non-urgent procedures until they are vaccinated or the virus has dissipated.

The tightened Green Pass rules, which require people to have been either vaccinated or recovered within the last six months, begin October 3. Researchers from Hebrew University have said they are hopeful that the guidelines will help decrease infection.

The coronavirus cabinet is expected to meet on Sunday for the first time in a month to discuss potential additional changes to the country's...