An increasing number of Arab workers join the Histadrut on entering fields of work covered by the trade unions; they and their families automatically become members of Kupat Holim and benefit from its medical services. In towns with a mixed population such as Haifa, Jaffa, Lod and others, Arab members are given medical services in the local clinics and other institutions serving the general population. In predominantly Arab-populated areas, members are served in clinics staffed in the main by Arab medical personnel. The number of Arab physicians and Arab nurses in the employ of Kupat Holim is on the increase. Kupat ser emer PERSONNEL The severe shortage of medical and paramedical manpower presents a difficult problem, if the high standard of medical services is to be maintained. Being aware of it all the time, Kupat Holim makes every effort and spares no expense on training programs for doctors, nurses, X-Ray and laboratory assistants and other paramedical personnel of every description. In order to alleviate the shortage of medical personnel in frontier and outlying areas, Kupat Holim pays special allowances to its employees working in those places. Kupat Holim also builds housing projects in the vicinity of the hospital for the staff, opens crèches, swimming pools, etc. for the convenience of employees. It has not always been posible to plan ahead for future needs or personnel in Kupat Holim, since it is difficult to make a forecast of the volume of immigration which depends on outside events. |