Deputy Health Minister (Yahadut HaTorah) R’ Yaakov Litzman on Thursday morning visited Maran Rav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv Shlita, conferring with him on the ongoing conflict between Ichud Hatzolah and Magen David Adom. YWN reported last month that United Hatzolah is unwilling to continue taking abuse from MDA, and has announced if left with no other alternative, it will take its 1,500 members and launch an independent emergency medical service.
Litzman on Wednesday met with United Hatzolah leaders, and is working to establish a forum comprised of representatives of various first-response organizations towards unity and enhancement of the services offered to residents of Israel.
On Thursday afternoon, a kinos of Hatzolah members from around the country will take place, primarily to permit the volunteer organization to flex its muscle and send a clear message to MDA, that the organization will no longer tolerate what it perceives as abuse from MDA. The event will take place in Heichal Shlomo in Petach Tikvah in the presence of the Maranan V’Rabanan Shlita, including Maran Rav Aryeh Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita, Hatzolah leaders, government ministers, MKs and public officials.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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2 Responses
I am not an expert on the specif complaints of Ichud Hatzoloh vs MADA however, it must be stated for the record that MDA in its capacity as main emergency provider to the country, has grudgingly worked with the various Hatzalah branches but maintains its stranglehold on overall control and limits Hatzalah’s power. Looking back on the establishment of Hatzoloh NYC and many other branches,it took years and years of fighting for acceptance and respect from the city agencies until Hatzoloh was given the full green light to do what it has to do.The dividends of that fight pay off every single day.
In order to change the status quo-you have to fight for it.
The first ambulance on the scene after the terrorist attack at Mercaz Harav was Hatzolah from Har Nof, more than two times further away than the next ambulance, which was from MDA around the corner.