Leumit and Meuhedet awarded new Beersheva hospital

• Published date: 18 April 2024
• Author: Gali Weinreb
• Publication title: Globes (Rishon LeZion, Israel)

The decision is precedent setting in several ways. As far as the health funds are concerned, this is the first public hospital that will be held by the small health funds (Clalit has many hospitals, including Soroka in Beersheva, while Maccabi has the Assuta chain)

For Sheba Medical Center, this is a significant step in spreading beyond its main campus in Ramat Gan. The Ministry of Finance did not want to set up another government hospital financed from the state budget and with workers who would be state employees. It was therefore decided that Leumit and Meuhedet would contract with the government to construct the hospital, and then with Sheba to operate it, so that the hospital will not be a government institution.

The decision by the ministries is expected to be confirmed by the government within the next few weeks. The target date for opening the hospital is 2028, although sources in the health sector say that 2030-2032 is a more realistic target. Various sources put the cost of building...