There are currently some 200,000 people living in Israel – migrant workers and asylum seekers – who lack residential status, and therefore have only extremely limited access to public health services. Many of them are entitled to medical services through the emergency rooms only when they are in a medical emergency and in immediate risk to their lives. The exclusion of the status-less community from the public health system is particularly damaging to those with cancer: without insurance, they have no way to cover the costly and essential costs of the treatment required for saving their lives. Even those who managed to secure private insurance, learn how, in their more difficult times, insurance companies deny coverage for their treatments. Status-less cancer patients are thus placed in an impossible situation: despite their serious illness, until they reach a life-threatening situation, they are prevented from receiving the essential medical treatment. By the time they reach a life-threatening situation, and are entitled to emergency care through the emergency room, it may already be too late.

The Prof. Bella Kaufman Open Clinic works to protect the right to health of these men and women: starting with medical treatment given by our volunteers, arranging and helping to fund diagnostic tests in hospitals; Liaising with insurance companies; Operating support groups for primary care-takers of severely and chronically ill patients; and advocacy work with policy makers promoting a sustainable change to the situation so that all cancer patients living in Israel are entitled to equal access to treatment and a chance of recovery.

In memory of Prof. Bella Kaufman, who has worked tirelessly to promote the equal access to health services of the most disadvantaged in general, and of cancer patients among them in particular, all donations will be dedicated to funding tests, treatments and medications for our patients.