|
|
The Health Insurance Institution "Kupat Holim" came into being when, at a general workers' conference in 1912, it was decided to establish a sick fund for working class people. Later on, other separate sick funds were founded such as those for the workers of Galilee, Samaria and of the "Hashomer" Organisation. In 1920, during the founding conference of the Histadrut Trade Union, the unification of all sick funds was agreed upon. Since then, Kupat Holim has grown rapidly and, at the beginning of 1987 more than 3 million members 78% of the country's population, including Arab workers and new immigrants - were being served by it.
Kupat Holim operates throughout Israel; each district has its own administration, which consists of an administrative director, a medical director and a representative of the district controller. It encompasses all relevant matters, such as preventive medicine, general and specialised medicine, dentistry, hospital services, psychiatric medicine, geriatric medicine, rehabilitation, medical centres, research facilities, health care in schools, baby clinics, recreational centres, laboratories, publicity etc. Fourteen hospitals with more than 5000 beds belong to Kupat Holim; these also include nursing schools, two of them on an academic level. Training centres for a number of medical and paramedical occupations also come within the sphere of this large and vital organisation.
