Rich or poor: the fine line in health
Many studies indicate that socio-economic status can have a profound influence on health. A person's state of health is the sum of many factors, including income, education, employment, ethnicity and even place of residence.
The conclusion of these studies is that the wealthy are healthier; they are better educated and better informed; they are more able to access and adhere to prevention and treatment measures: pharmaceuticals, good nutrition, medical checkups, exercise and so on.
Sometimes staying healthy is too expensive
Perhaps one of the greatest achievements of the Israeli National Health Insurance Law (enacted in 1995) was equal access to healthcare services. Over the last decade, however, equality in healthcare has been impeded by the ever-growing burden of co-payments. National Health Insurance in Israel generally covers 85% of pharmaceutical costs, with the remainder paid by the insured.
However, many families cannot afford the co-payment because of their financial situation. Often they must choose between buying food and buying medication. Other groups, such as the elderly or disabled, may be incapable of physically going out to buy medicine. Recent surveys indicate that among the lowest socio-economic quintile, about 23% refrain from purchasing pharmaceuticals due to the expense of co-payments. This not only harms the underprivileged patients, but also has a negative impact on the entire healthcare system.
The solution
In 2005, Rashi and the French Association Pharm'Adom initiated a pioneering, community-based program to subsidize medication for families who cannot afford them. The partnership has led to wide-scale, growing intervention currently focusing on two main areas:
- Subsidized pharmaceuticals – assisting needy patients with chronic health conditions in community clinics serving underprivileged populations (read more).
- Community and public health intervention – operating educational programs promoting preventative measures, adherence to physician instructions and taking advantage of public health services (read more).
What do we want to achieve?
The Pharm'Adom-Rashi Initiative is dedicated to achieving a long-term, systemic, government-run solution to inequality in the healthcare system. To create a wide basis for realizing this goal, the Initiative combines direct intervention with public activity, operating several models of assistance while examining their medical, social and economic impact. At the same time, we work to develop strategic partnerships with government agencies and NGO's, recruiting support among policymakers and increasing public awareness.
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