The Society for Patients Rights in Israel

The Society for Patients Rights in Israel (Hebrew: האגודה לזכויות החולה בישראל) is a non-profit voluntary association that works to promote and realize the rights of patients within Israel's health system. Founded in 1996, shortly after the passage of the Patient Rights Law, the organization has operated for nearly three decades. It raises awareness of patient rights, makes knowledge accessible, and equips patients and their families with tools to exercise their rights. The Society is a recognized expert body in managing strategies to advance policy for patient rights, working regularly with the health system, health funds (kupot holim), and the Ministry of Health. The organization provides individual assistance to patients and their families, including legal advice in special cases, and operates a public hotline via phone, email, Facebook, and forums on its website. It also runs rights-realization centers, such as the one established at Sheba Medical Center in 2017 and an Arabic-language patient rights center opened in 2023 at the Nazareth hospital. In 2024, it operated a support center for victims of hostile actions following the "Iron Swords" war. The Society's centers handle thousands of inquiries annually. Beyond individual aid, the Society serves as an umbrella organization for about 120 patient associations, leading the "Right to Health Organizations" coalition. It is also a partner in the rare diseases coalition, the mental health forum, the 5 Billion for Health forum, and the Trauma-Adapted Health System forum. Its activities include meetings with senior health officials, publishing position papers, participating in Ministry of Health committees, leading public campaigns, and operating a legal fund. Representatives regularly participate in Knesset discussions and are involved in legislative amendments and systemic changes. The Society was founded by Adina Marx together with Adv. Haviva Avi-Guy, Menachem Aviram, Prof. Marvin Gottesman, Prof. Eran Dolev, Hadas Hershmesh, Adv. Yitzhak Hushan, Prof. Nili Tabak, Mordechai Cohen, and Dr. Aviva Plaut. Its current leadership includes chairman Shmulik Ben Yaakov, president Prof. Mordechai Shani, and CEO Aya Wertheimer. The association also benefits from a scientific advisory council. Its website offers information in Hebrew, English, Arabic, and Russian.

The Society for Patients Rights in Israel was established in 1996, following the enactment of the Patient Rights Law. It was founded by Adina Marx in collaboration with Adv. Haviva Avi-Guy, Menachem Aviram, Prof. Marvin Gottesman, Prof. Eran Dolev, Hadas Hershmesh, Adv. Yitzhak Hushan, Prof. Nili Tabak, Mordechai Cohen, and Dr. Aviva Plaut. The organization was created to promote and realize patient rights within Israel's health system, raise public awareness, and provide tools for exercising those rights. Over nearly three decades, the Society has become a leading advocate for patient rights, working with health funds, the Ministry of Health, and other stakeholders. It has led public struggles and policy changes on issues such as the Patient Rights Law, the National Health Insurance Law, and the expansion of the health basket. The Society operates a public hotline and provides individual assistance, including legal advice. It has established rights realization centers, including one at Sheba Medical Center in 2017 and an Arabic-language center in Nazareth in 2023. In 2024, it ran a support center for victims of hostile actions during the 'Iron Swords' war. The Society serves as an umbrella organization for about 120 patient associations through the 'Right to Health Organizations' coalition. It is also a partner in the rare diseases coalition, the mental health forum, the 5 Billion for Health forum, and the Trauma-Adapted Health System forum. Its activities include meetings with senior health officials, publishing position papers, participating in Ministry of Health committees, leading public campaigns, and operating a legal fund. Representatives regularly participate in Knesset discussions and are involved in legislative amendments and systemic changes. In 2022, the Society held a conference titled 'Women Speak Health'. It also published a book, 'The Patient Rights Law – The Unfinished Revolution', produced with Assuta to mark 25 years of the Patient Rights Law. The Society continues to operate its hotline and centers, handling thousands of inquiries annually, and provides information in Hebrew, English, Arabic, and Russian.

• 2024

  Support center for victims of hostile actions operates following the 'Iron Swords' war.

• 2023

  Arabic-language patient rights center opens at M.M.S.I. hospital in Nazareth.

• 2022

  Conference 'Women Speak Health' held; book 'The Patient Rights Law – The Unfinished Revolution' published.

• 2017

  Rights realization center opens at Sheba Medical Center.

• 1996

  The Society for Patients Rights in Israel is founded after the enactment of the Patient Rights Law.

Non-profit patient rights advocacy and support organization in Israel.

• Public hotline

  A hotline for receiving inquiries from the public, providing advice and assistance via phone, email, Facebook, and forums.

• Rights realization center at Sheba Medical Center

  Operates since 2017, providing responses to patients, families, visitors, and medical teams.

• Arabic-language patient rights center in Nazareth

  Opened in 2023 at M.M.S.I. hospital in Nazareth.

• Support center for victims of hostile actions

  Operated throughout 2024 following the 'Iron Swords' war.

• Position papers and research

  Initiates research, position papers, and articles on patient rights, medical ethics, and health consumerism.

• Conferences and lectures

  Provides information through conferences, lectures to groups, companies, and organizations.

1. 1האגודה לזכויות החולה בישראלpatients-rights.org
2. 2The Society for Patients Rights in Israel - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3האגודה לזכויות החולה בישראל - Wikipediahe.wikipedia.org