L’Haim (Ramon)

In “Who beat the pandemic?” (February 19) Amotz Asa-El gives credit for the efficient Israeli health system to Berl Kaznelson and Yitzhak Rabin. But the key person who moved the pieces together in an outstandingly successful structure that is a world class model of health system reform is Haim Ramon.

Ramon, who stood up to the Histadrut which he previously led, and then as minister of Health, was the leader and architect who led the process and design of the 1995 legislation of National Health Insurance (NHI) to cover the entire population. The NHI legislation incorporated the four major nonprofit Health Funds, competing for members and paid per capita for care of members for designated preventive and curative services. That construct was the key to rapid improvement in patient care with prevention as health fund responsibility, in contrast to the pre-NHI status. It also accounts for the eminently successful COVID vaccination program delivery.

Haim Ramon deserves the respect and thanks of the nation for this brilliant achievement.

That being said, there are still public health improvements needed in Israel in the Ministry of Health in particular dealing with funding for health, widespread nutritional deficiencies of key minerals such as iodine and key vitamins such as vitamin D and folic acid, all of which can be added to basic foods such as salt, milk and flour in enriched bread and pasta; as well as addressing unexplained increasing mortality from infectious diseases.

Emeritus, Braun School of Public Health, Hebrew University