Six doctors are suing the state over being forced to buy insurance that is useless to them. Even if they don't own private practices, they have to buy malpractice coverage that costs thousands of shekels a year.
Residents may not see people privately due to their long hours in the public health system, and because they have not qualified as specialists. But they are charged the same amount as doctors who run their own clinics.
Even specialists who cannot hold private consultations and clinics, such as emergency room doctors, are forced to pay the extra insurance.
The suit against the state, the Israel Medical Association, Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv and the Tel Aviv municipality, was filed by six residents and specialists. The plaintiffs have asked the court to recognize their suit as a class action on behalf of 4,500 doctors in the public health system.
The Mirsham association representing young doctors has also joined the suit, which was filed last week.
The plaintiffs claim the malpractice insurance they are forced to buy only covers private work outside hospitals and not their work in the public system. Yet it is a precondition to getting a job in a hospital. Doctors who have refused to sign up for the insurance have had their salaries docked to pay the fees, which the plaintiffs claim is illegal.
This is just one of a number of suits against the state and the medical association by residents after last year's doctors strike - and Mirsham says more are planned. They include suits against 26-hour-long shifts for residents.
The Health Ministry said it had yet to receive the suit, and will deal with it as required when it does.
The Israel Medical Association said it was surprised by the suit, as a meeting had been set between the sides to discuss the matter. It said it had yet to examine the suit and would respond in court.
