British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 612

CHAPTER XVI.

are now limited mainly to the maintenance of hospitals in Jerusalem and (for tuberculosis, with Government assistance) in Safad; and of health centres which undertake work of a preventive and educational nature. The hospital beds which the Organisation supports represent 9 per cent. of the total for the country. The following figures indicate the Organisation's annual expenditure at different periods :-

£P.

1920 127,196

1980 110,620

1940 121,608

1944 253.668

Its future plans envisage the further extension of the large hospital in Jerusalem, the construction of a new hospital for tuberculosis, assistance to the projected Hebrew School of Medicine and various health educational measures.

11. The most important of the Jewish voluntary medical services at present are the Sick Benefit Societies (Kupath Holim). These are off-shoots of the Jewish Labour Federation (Histadruth) and are supported by annual contributions from members who are drawn very largely from the labouring class. They provide every form of medical and nursing care, both domiciliary and hospital, and all specialist services and, in addition, their members receive financial assistance during illness. Dependants of subscribers are cared for by the Societies under slightly different arrangements. Contributions are high and average £P.9 per subscriber annually at present. Membership amounts to some 140,000 and there is almost an equal number of dependants. The 240 hospital beds maintained represent under 6 per cent. of the country's total ; sick members are also accommodated in Government and other voluntary institutions. The rapid expansion and importance of these Societies is indicated by the following figures of annual expenditure at various periods :-

£P.

1921> 41,752

1986 199,512

1940 323,711

1944 1,195,359

Government has in the past afforded assistance by way of capital grants and one of the Societies' two hospitals will in future receive an annual grant.

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