“Due to deteriorating levels of public trust, infection rates are on the rise”, said Professor Ronni Gamzu at the Magen Israel headquarters when he first began his position as the national COVID-19 Project Coordinator. His mission, he declared, was “to form a new contract between the healthcare system, the government and the public… From the government’s side, the new contract means transparency, professionalism, relevance and communication”.
To execute this task, Professor Gamzu decided to establish a public council with representatives from all sectors of the population. This mission was put under the care of Dr. Shlomit Avni, Director of the Department for Policy Planning in the Ministry of Health’s Strategic Planning Administration.
With MAOZ’s assistance, she consolidated the list of experts – including representatives from the ultra-Orthodox and Arab societies, and civil society organizations representing groups such as the elderly, people with disabilities, youths, residents of the country’s peripheral regions and more. The council’s role was and remains to assist Magen Israel in consulting and reviewing the regulations set by the Ministry of Health according to indices of fairness, practicality and clarity.
Council meetings are attended by the COVID-19 Project Coordinator, Head of Public Health, Dr. Sharon Elroi-Preis, a MAOZ Network member and the director of the Magen Israel headquarters. The council uses its professional and community networks to enhance public trust, identify gaps and needs on the ground, and rekindle hope and solidarity.