Report to the ... Zionist Congress and to the Council of the Jewish Agency in ... · 1935-08-01 · 8.1935 · p. Seite 423

1933-34 amounted to £P. 113,614. The contributions from the various sources were approximately in the same proportions as in the previous year. There is a small increase in the contribution from employers, owing, no doubt, to the marked improvement in the economic state of the country. This year has, however, closed with a marked deficit in spite of the increase in all sources of income. The total expenditure amounted to £P. 119,076, causing a deficit of £P. 5,462. 26. The main factors responsible for this unsatisfactory financial state are the following : (a) The absence of a health insurance law making" it compulsory for all workers to contribute to this Fund results in the subscribers being low wage-earners only. The percentage of high wage-earners is very small, (b) The absence of a law compelling employers to contribute to this Fund reduces this source of income to a relatively insignificant figure and throws the full burden of five-sixths of the total expenditure upon the subscribers. In addition to these, there were two other reasons that brought about the previously mentioned deficit : the heavy sick roll amongst subscribers of this Fund, due to the epidemic of malaria during the summer and influenza during the winter, and the reinvestment of great sums of money in new enterprises and in the improvement of existing institutions. 27. The year 1934 saw a great improvement in the range of activities of the Fund. Medical assistance given in the various institutions of the Fund was expanded and perfected to a marked degree. Three new Röntgen ray departments were established in the Emek Hospital, the Tel-Aviv centre, and the Haifa .centre. Specialists for the various branches of the medical profession were recruited, mainly from amongst the German refugees. The number of beds in the Emek Hospital was increased to seventy-two. Nursing home accommodation was also extended. In Motzah the accommodation was increased to a total of ninety-six beds, on Mount Carmel to seventy-six beds. A new seasonal hospital for rheumatic treatment was opened in Tiberias. The physical treatment services also showed a further increase in activities, and the network of dental surgeries was further widened throughout the country. During this year there were built or there are in the process of erection : a nurses' home attached to the Emek Hospital (Government grant for this purpose, £P. 3,000); a clinic in Jerusalem; a central clinic in Tel-Aviv, and a regional clinic in the North of Tel-Aviv; a clinic in Haifa (building completed), and clinics in Petach-Tikvah and Beer Tuviah. Various repair works were also carried out in existing institutions. 28. In the sphere of prophylactic work there were also marked improvements. A special doctor was appointed to supervise the works in the labour camps and in the communal units in the various colonies. Explanatory and educational work is being con- 423