Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Monday announced that the government would begin evaluating the possibility of shortening medical residents' shifts from 26 to 16 hours.
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Lapid met with Economy Minister Orna Barbivai and Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz to discuss the allocation of resources required. The goal is to reach an agreed-upon outline that can come into effect by September 2023, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office. In October 2021, nearly 2,600 medical residents resigned to protest the 26-hour shifts in a letter delivered by Dr. Ray Bitton, head of the Mirsham organization of medical interns.
After meeting with Lapid's Chief of Staff, Naama Schultz, and speaking to Lapid via telephone while the prime minister is in Berlin, Bitton agreed to withdraw the letters of resignation.
"The shifts are insane, their conditions for making life and death decisions are impossible," Lapid said in a statement, thanking Bitton for her help. "I promised that we will do everything to shorten the times, we will harness the health insurance funds and the hospitals with us."
He thanked the protesters who "have been taking care of us and treating us for many years," saying, "it is time for us to take care of you again." Horowitz also welcomed the move, thanking Lapid and noting that the shift shortening "is possible and necessary to start immediately."
Bitton also thanked Lapid, Shultz and Barbivai, calling on the Finance Ministry to pass the budget to start the process of officially shortening the shifts.
This article was first published by i24NEWS.
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