Zionist/Jewish Voluntary in the Health Services in Palestine before 1948 (Nakba), British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 611. Chapter XVI: Social Services : Section 1: Health Services : (a) General Outline :

CHAPTER XVI.

to 33 per cent. is an indication of the increasing share which Government has taken in the provision of hospital accommodation. The majority of the patients entering Government hospitals are Arabs; but a substantial number of Jews are admitted and the ratio has increased in recent years. In 1944 it was 15 per cent.

The figures of expenditure provide further evidence of the manner in which the Department of Health has developed. These were :-

£P.

1924/25 1930/31 1940/41 1944/45

84,440 105,661 256,533 543,000

7. Plans for the future envisage the construction of a mental, tuberculosis and three new general hospitals; the extension of existing accommodation for infectious disease; a central nurses' training college and the opening of clinics in the rural parts of the country which lack them.

8. Government's health policy has recently been reviewed. If the democratic development of local self-government in Palestine is to be furthered, it appears inevitable that local authorities should take their proper share in the management of the country. To attain this they will eventually require to assume responsibility for many-of the services at present operated by the Department of Health. Tel Aviv has already advanced further in this direction than any of the other local authorities. (See paragraph 12 below).

JEWISH VOLUNTARY SERVICES.

9. In the earlier years, until about 1930, the medical care of the Jewish community and of the new immigrant population was provided by existing Jewish institutions and by the Hadassah Medical Organisation which, maintained by funds subscribed from abroad, developed a widespread system of clinics in Jewish centres with hospitals in five of the principal towns.

10. In 1927 a number of experts were appointed by the Jewish Joint Palestine Survey Commission to report upon all branches of Jewish development and colonisation. The general terms of their report were to the effect that much of the work undertaken by the Hadassah Organisation should devolve upon the local communities and that its ancillary health services, such as infant welfare and school care, should either be taken over by Government or continued by means of a Government subsidy. This policy has been steadily pursued and, as a result, the activities of the Hadassah

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