Israeli Health Association Reports 20% Surge in Requests for Medication
Haverim L'Refuah reports a 20% surge in medication assistance requests over the past year, with over 7,000 patients relying on the association monthly as medical costs rise.
The "Haverim L'Refuah" association reports a 20% increase in requests for medication assistance during the past year compared to the previous one. According to the organization's data, more than 7,000 patients in Israel rely on its services every month to obtain vital medical treatments.
Representatives explain that these figures reflect the growing difficulty patients face in covering medical care costs, particularly for expensive drugs or those not included in the official health basket.
"I meet frustrated and desperate patients every day who are forced to skip life-saving medications or treatments simply because of price tags. People for whom choosing between food and medicine is a daily dilemma," said Baruch Lieberman, CEO of Haverim L'Refuah.
During the past year, the association distributed medications valued at over 152 million shekels, compared to about 141 million shekels the year before—an 8% increase. In total, approximately 400,000 packages were distributed, ranging from basic pharmaceuticals to expensive treatments excluded from state healthcare coverage.
Lieberman urged the public to donate unused medications: "I appeal to everyone to donate unused drugs and pass them on to us so we can deliver them to those who desperately need them."
