The government has recently received recommendations from a special inter-ministerial commission, led by the directors general of the ministries of finance and health, regarding the format of a new hospital in Beersheba. Originally, it was planned that the hospital would be owned by one of the health insurance funds and not managed by a government agency. However, this decision was later changed to have the state manage and own the hospital, with opposition from the Ministry of Finance.
The inter-ministerial commission recommended that the new hospital be jointly owned by two small health insurance funds, Meuhedet and Leumit, with operational management carried out by the Sheba Medical Center. This decision aims to address evolving healthcare needs in the area while optimizing management and ownership structure for the new hospital. The new hospital will have a capacity of 600 beds and is expected to alleviate pressure on Soroka Hospital and improve access to medical care for residents in the Negev region.
