THE DETROIT JEWISH. NEWS Friday, April 8, 1983 25 `Deductible' Cuts Case Load During Israel's Doctor Strike By HUGH ORGEL TEL AVIV (JTA) — My doctor's receptioriist tells telephone inquirers that the doctor receives "urgent or important cases" in his surgery. But she does not tell them they will have to pay 600 Shekels (about $16) for the visit, on top of their usual monthly payment to their Kupat Holim (sick- fund). • She doesn't have to. In this sixth week of a strike by Israel's 8,500 salaried Right HI Your Own Driveway! THE TUNE "s —UP MAN Certified by the National Automotive Institute of Excellence Comes to your home or olfice•with the -garage-on-wheels Valet service that doesn 't cost one penny extra • Expert diagnostic tune-up • Electronic analyzer - all engine systems • Professionally trained mechanics ■ Perfect results assured Expanded Services Call Sanford Rosenberg for your car problems 398-3605 VISA' physicians in government hospitals and sick-fund clinics, patients in im- mediate need of medical treatment appear to b6 pay- ing up without argument, albeit not too happily. When I asked my doctor to renew prescriptions for medicines I have been tak- ing for some time he told me: "Leave the list with my secretary and then come in again to pick up the prescription. If I see you face-to-face, I shall have to charge you the 600 Shekels." The strike committee's system varies from sick- fund to sick-fund, but the special charge is country-wide. In my par- ticular sick-fund, where doctors see- patients in their ,own offices and issue • prescriptions which are filled or supplied by private pharmacies, with' the patient paying 10 percent of the cost and the sick- fund the balance, matters are more or less straightforward. But in the major Kupat Holim of Histadrut, to which most Israelis belong, things are more compli- cated. There, doctors see patients mainly in the clinics. The sick-fund and the government have com- plained that the doctors charge extra fees for use of state-owned or Histadrut edge the fact that young tinue their negotiations for provide higher starting facilities. doctors, in the first few a reconsideration of the sal- salaries for junior MDs and Kupat Holim years of their medical ary scale of publicly- fewer hours. prescriptions aie filled in careers, are grossly employed doctors. Both sick-fund pharmacies which underpaid and over- sides are considering - FIRESTONE do not honor prescriptions worked by excessively suggestions of a technical JEWELRY by doctors seeing patients in long hours in hospitals. committee consisting of doc- Wholesale Diamonds 8 Jewelry emergency clinics estab- But in trying to play tors and government Remounting Jewelry 8 Watch Repair lished in hotels, against the down or discredit the economists. They are trying SUITE 318 ADVANCE BLDG. 23077 Greenfield at 9 Mile 600 Shekel charge. doctors' demands, the to recast the salary scales to (313) 557-1860 In hospital reception and Finance Ministry has emergency wards, doctors publicized the exremely on duty are on a restricted large incomes of senior Sabbath schedule, though physicians who head de- emergencies, including ac- partments after decades cident cases, heart attacks of medical practice. In Is- and other sudden attacks, rael, as elsewhere in the 28585 TELEGRAPH RD. - are attended to as promptly world, a top surgeon is (313) 3. 03-1300 Se ilfield Rams From Tel-12 as before the strikes with- among the highest ear- ners. out advance special pay- ALL MAKES & MODELS — DOMESTIC OR FOREIGN Meanwhile, the doctors ment. Sam ScOtella The extra payment de- -and the government con- mand has had one clear effect,: the doctors' work load has been drastically Talent Agency cut. Patients visit their 855-1400 music is doctors only when it is really necessary. Doctors report they no longer see Jerry Fenby Wilmot Johnny Chase the many patients who Fenby-Carr Tom Ploeger Rendezvous would come to the clinic Shelby Lee Bob Durant ABZ Orchestra for minor cuts or aches. Eric Freudigman Divertissement Hospital emergency Primos rooms are dealing only Carl Ryding Jay Valle Harry Teichert. Strings with bona fide emergen-• George Brooks Tim Hewitt & Feelings Gigue cies. Fascinating Rhythm Johnny Griffith Perfect Blend In general, health care Sheldon Yellen Nate Rondell Mariachi Band does not appear to have de- Smiling Faces Caricaturists Eric Harris teriorated because of the strike. Early reports that sick people were going un- treated appear to have been disproved. • An afternoon newspaper splashed over its front page an .alarming report that a 13741 West 11 Mile 542-2555 woman, diagnosed as suffer- Oak Park ing from breast cancer, was , sent home with instructions Located 1 Block W. of Coolidge to "return after the strike ends." It published a correc- tion the next day, tucked away on an inside page. The correction said the doctor had diagnosed a minor cyst I Reg $2 le which did not require ur- Must be presented with gent treatment. Must be presented with Medical Association incoming order incoming order sources charge such reports LIMIT 10 LIMIT 10 were being spread by Health and Finance Minis- Shari Lynn Cleaners Expires 4/30/83 Shari Lynn Cleaners Expires 4/30/83 try sources to discredit the medical profession while it is locked in a dispute with the government on salary demands. They say that this is also the reason for a re- WO cent spate of reports that gs. Reg WO the income tax authorities Must be presented with Must be presented with have tightened their inves- incoming order , incoming order tigations into the tax re- turns of doctors. LIMIT 5 I LIMIT 5 The public, which is in- Shari Lynn Cleaners Shari Lynn Cleaners -Expires 4130183 Expires 4130163 convenienced by the doc- tors' strike but is not re- ceiving faulty medical care, 'seems to acknowl- TaMaROFF LeasinG CO FLYBY— 6TEI\ A SURE THING FOR A GREAT PARTY! 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