In the midst of the ongoing conflict in Israel, the newly appointed Minister of Health, Busso, has been grappling with the most severe mental health crisis in the country’s history. Busso’s appointment came just five days after a tragic massacre, following a call from Shas leader Aryeh Deri, who relayed the decision of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, the councils of elders governing Shas.
The appointment took place approximately a week after the massacre, with Busso having served as the chairman of the health committee in the Knesset for about a year.
Since the outbreak of the war, hospitals have treated nearly 6,000 individuals injured in Hamas attacks in the surrounding areas and the extensive rocket fire that has affected nearly every part of Israel.
Minister Busso emphasized the healthcare system’s rapid response to the crisis, recounting how the system had prepared for scenarios involving 150-200 wounded individuals arriving at emergency rooms simultaneously during drills. However, the system faced the reality of 700 wounded individuals arriving at the Soroka hospital in a single day during the early days of the war.
Despite many medical and nursing staff members having personal connections to individuals affected by the conflict, they demonstrated remarkable dedication in treating the wounded.
Busso, a 50-year-old married father of six residing in Bnei Brak, had previously served in the IDF as a lieutenant and managed educational institutions. He also served as deputy mayor of Petach Tikva before his election to the Knesset.
In his role as Minister of Health, Busso conducted numerous visits to hospitals and accommodations where survivors of the massacre and evacuees from areas near Gaza and Lebanon are staying. During these visits, he witnessed the dedication of healthcare workers and listened to harrowing testimonies from wounded individuals and medical staff members, some of whom had also suffered injuries within their own families.
One of the critical challenges faced by the Israeli healthcare system is its ability to treat a large number of seriously injured individuals at once, considering that fewer than half of the country’s hospital wards and operating rooms are fortified against missile attacks. Minister Busso highlighted the readiness to relocate hospitals from the north to the center of the country if required and the ongoing efforts to protect currently vulnerable wards, with an estimated total cost of 4 billion shekels for full hospital protection.
The experiences gained during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Busso, facilitated the healthcare system’s transition from routine to emergency and its ability to respond promptly to the crisis at hand. He praised the system for its exceptional abilities in managing the surge of wounded individuals, which exceeded even the most extreme scenarios anticipated in the Israeli healthcare system.
However, Minister Busso pointed out that the mental health crisis is the most challenging aspect of the war. He acknowledged that the mental health system in Israel has faced severe resource constraints for many years, resulting in inadequate hospitalization and treatment conditions in psychiatric facilities and long waiting times for essential mental health treatments.
“The mental health crisis in the war is the biggest and most serious mental health event in the country’s history,” said Busso. He highlighted that mental health crises affect not only those in the communities around Gaza but also many Israeli citizens who have not directly experienced the horrors of the conflict. Anxiety and trauma are widespread, with some individuals even experiencing distress from air raid sirens alone.
The Ministry of Health has outlined a series of initiatives to address the mental health crisis, including proactive efforts to identify those in need of mental support. Plans involve the employment of thousands of therapists with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and mental health to serve as ‘psychological mentors,’ responding to the health insurance funds. Additionally, the ministry intends to provide hundreds of new rehabilitation beds nationwide.
Addressing concerns about his wartime appointment to the position of Minister of Health, Busso highlighted his familiarity with the healthcare system from his previous role as the head of the health committee in the Knesset. He expressed the need for a full-time health minister during the war, emphasizing the immense workload faced by the Ministry of Health during these challenging times.
Minister Busso also stressed the importance of addressing the chronic budget deficit in the healthcare system, noting that a budget increase of about 20 billion shekels is necessary to align Israel’s healthcare funding with Western standards. While he did not specify that such an increase would be his post-war demand, he highlighted the need for an improved perspective on the health system, with a focus on reducing wait times for critical medical procedures.
