Drugs and supplies run out as Clalit strike drags on

The Tel Aviv Labor Court will convene this morning in an effort to find a solution to the continuing strike at Clalit Health Services. Patients are suffering as the HMO's hospitals are postponing operations and the inventory of drugs and certain medical supplies are running out.

Clalit's 15,000 administrative, support, technical, maintenance and sanitation workers went on strike on Sunday to protest wage erosion and the delays in negotiations with the management of the kupat holim. The labor tribunal refused to order workers back to work on Tuesday and scheduled another session for today.

Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman (United Torah Judaism) is expected to meet with Histadrut labor federation chairman Ofer Eini this morning in an attempt to end the strike, after negotiations broke down yesterday.

The strike is now affecting almost all Clalit institutions and services, and in particular the hospitals owned by the health fund. Thousands of operations have been canceled so far, along with outpatient treatments. Dr. Eran Halperin, director of the Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva, said half of the 220 scheduled daily operations at the hospital have been canceled.

"We still do not know what the effects on patients' future health will be of postponing complex surgery," Clalit management said.

Two geriatric hospitals, Hartzfeld Geriatric Hospital in Gedera and the Beit Rivka Hospital in Petah Tikva, as well as the Loewenstein Hospital Rehabilitation Center in Ra'anana, reported particularly grave situations, including the absence of 30 percent to 40 percent of staff due to the strike.

The director of Loewenstein, Prof. Jacob Hart, warned yesterday: "Most of the support staff is absent and we are unable to transport patients for physiotherapy treatments and occupational and other therapy. Also, we have not taken patients out of bed as we routinely do twice a day to improve their performance and prevent complications such as bed sores and lung infections. In addition, I am worried about the spread of serious infections and a threat to the lives of patients and staff," Hart said.

Clalit management warned this week of the possibility of infection in all its hospitals. Garbage is piling up, including in the wards. Drugs and other supplies, including syringes and other basic equipment, are running out. Bedding and clothing is not being changed and meals are not being supplied regularly. The remaining staff is also suffering, health fund officials said.

Hospital occupancy is also rising due to the normal winter illnesses. Some Clalit hospitals reported 100 percent to 130 percent occupancy in internal medicine wards, which also increases the risk of infection.

Litzman called on striking workers to return to work. Yesterday he met with the director of Clalit, Dr. Eli Defes.

The union said yesterday in a statement: "The State of Israel should be embarrassed that in 2009 there are thousands of workers who earn pittances, less than minimum wage, and are forced to receive income support allowances in order to survive. We regret that patients are also having to pay the price of the Finance Ministry's inflexibility."