"The goal of the project is to enable children with hematological and oncological diseases to receive life-saving/extending drugs that are not in the healthcare basket and cannot be obtained through the health fund or the pharmaceutical companies. I can see and hear the happiness and gratitude of the doctors when they can successfully approve the drugs for the patients. It is an honor for me to be part of this activity, which provides such significant assistance in treating the patients."
Chairperson of the Doctors' Committee of the Habogrim association -
Dr. Shifra Ash, Director of the Pediatric Hemato-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant Division
at Ruth Rappaport Children's Hospital,
Rambam Health Campus in Haifa

"For over a decade, I have been involved in the project of the Habogrim association, initially as a member of the Association Committee, and in the last eight years as the Chairperson of the Israeli Association for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology.

The project's aim is to enable children with hemato-oncological diseases to receive life-saving/ life-extending drugs that are not included in the national health basket and cannot be obtained through the health insurance or the pharmaceutical companies. The list of drugs is updated annually by the heads of the pediatric hemato-oncological departments in Israel, in accordance with the drugs approved for the health basket; this is based on professional considerations, and in accordance with the utilization of the previous year. Over the years, I see the tremendous need for these drugs, along with the requests and the doctors’ struggle to obtain the drugs. I can see and hear the joy and gratitude of the doctors who manage to approve the drugs for the patients. In cases where the drug indeed helps after 3 months of treatment, the project serves as a bridge to obtain approval for the drug from the health fund.

As the chairperson of the association, and the person who works alongside the program and approves each of the drugs, according to the list, I feel that we are enabling patients to receive drugs that indeed have a big chance of helping, and that can make things much easier for both the patient and the treating physician. The selection and approval of drugs is done fairly; the decision is based on clinical considerations and according to the predefined list only. Moreover, over the years, the association has allowed flexibility in exceptional cases where the clinical consideration was justified.

In addition, I would like to acknowledge the activity of the association, their professional efficiency and tremendous dedication. This is what drives the process of submitting the request, approval, purchasing of the drug, and transfer of the drugs promptly to the different departments in order to provide the best possible treatment for the patient. It is an honor for me to be part of this activity, which makes such a vital difference in the car of our patients."
Great job,

Best regards,
Dr. Shifra Ash