Goal: Maintain normal operations of essential health facilities as much as possible while ensuring high alert and strict protection

The Health System continues to operate on high alert while gradually expanding services, aiming to preserve operational readiness alongside providing ongoing medical care to the public.

Principles for operating the health system at this time:

• Maintain readiness for mass casualty events
• Ensure continuity of care for the civilian population
• Protect vulnerable populations
• Reduce hospital overload

The Ministry of Health issued guidelines to the health system for Sunday.

Key guidelines include:

• Family Care Centers (Tipat Halav): Continue expanding services to all protected stations. The Ministry is also working to operate these centers in two shifts based on staff availability. Efforts will be made to return additional health professionals to work at these centers according to space limitations. Details on the nearest center are available on the Ministry of Health website and hotline.
• Health Bureaus will remain open at their regular locations or alternate sites depending on protection measures. Services will include essential and urgent actions such as rabies vaccination, urgent care, burial permits, and emergency inspections. More details are available on the Ministry website and hotline.
• HMOs will continue operating all clinics and labs that meet Home Front Command defense policies. Only essential community services should be conducted, minimizing hospital visits as much as possible. More details are available on HMO hotlines and websites.
• General Hospitals will expand ambulatory and semi-elective urgent care services.
• Hospitals will operate under essential defense policies and full readiness. Early discharge of patients should continue to maintain capacity for new patients, along with expanding home hospitalization programs. In areas without fully protected sites, operate according to Ministry-approved exceptions.
• Rehabilitation Facilities – Guidelines emphasize procedures for providing care and equipment to patients needing rehabilitation and mobility support during emergencies, including issuing basic walking prosthetics to amputees whose devices are unusable or lost.
• Geriatric Hospitals – Temporary emergency codes have been issued for rehabilitative patients with nursing needs, as outlined in March 6 guidelines.

Early discharge of patients who can be safely released should continue to allow intake of new patients. Discharged patients will go home, to chronic geriatric facilities, or to social welfare institutions. Institutions should operate in the most protected manner possible while maintaining daily routines for patients. The Ministry of Health will continue updating guidelines to ensure readiness while maintaining essential health system operations.

Health Ministry

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