Gaza: The World Health Organisation recognised the progress made in the Israeli health system, vouching for health to be used as a 'bridge for peace' between the war-torn nation and its estranged neighbour Israel.Director-General of WHO Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised the efforts to improve Israel's health system, such as introduction of a digital health system, stronger food labelling laws, and extending free dental care to older people and children under 18, a statement said here on Wednesday.
Dr Tedros met Israeli Deputy Minister of Health Rabbi Yakov Litzman and discussed areas for improvement, such as lowering the rate of hospital-acquired infections. Dr Tedros, who concluded his first visit to Israel on Tuesday, also toured a children's cancer ward at Hadassah Medical Centre in Jerusalem, which accepts all patients, regardless of location, ethnicity or religion.
The WHO DG further met Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Major General Yoav Mordechai in Jerusalem, to discuss ways to improve the conditions for health for Palestinians, particularly in Gaza. This includes improving energy security for health facilities, and enabling more patients to obtain exit permits for specialist health services not available in the Gaza Strip.
'Health is a human right, and together with our partners, WHO is doing everything in its power to ensure that the right to health is respected, protected and fulfilled. We look forward to continuing and strengthening our partnership with both Israel and the Palestinian Ministry of Health,' he added.
Dr Tedros discussed WHO's plan to establish an office in Tel Aviv later this year, with an aim to strengthen the partnership between Israel and WHO, and Israel's contribution to the work of WHO's European region.
Upholding the right to the highest attainable standard of health for all is fundamental to the work of WHO, so that all Israelis – and all Palestinians – can access quality health services, when and where they need them, without facing financial hardship, the WHO DG added.(UNI)