Public Opinion on the Level of Service and Performance of the Healthcare System in 2009 and in Comparison with Previous Years

The Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute conducts a biennial survey of the level and performance of health-care services from the perspective of service consumers. The latest survey was conducted in 2009. The survey polls a representative sample of Israel’s adult population (age 22 and over). Respondents numbered 1,903 people with an 80% response rate.

This study provides ongoing information to assist health-plan managers and policymakers in following up on key performance measures for health services. It sheds light on positive trends to be reinforced and on areas requiring improvement, thereby contributing to public discussion and the planning of appropriate responses. It also reflects the opinions of service consumers, allowing them a voice in policymaking. The findings were presented to policymakers at the Ministry of Health, the National Health Council and the health plans, and serve as a basis for current efforts to strengthen the public health system and enhance equality.

A steering committee representing all the health plans, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, the National Insurance Institute and consumer organizations provided important input throughout the study.

The 2009 survey and findings presented in this report are the eighth in the series. A detailed summary of the national findings was widely distributed in early 2010; this report presents an in-depth analysis of the findings, comparing health plans as well as different population groups. The main topics discussed are:

  • Trends over time in satisfaction with health-plan services: availability, waiting time, preventive services, health condition and mental distress, and the burden of payments for health
  • Accessibility of services: forgoing medical care and prescription drugs due to cost, forgoing dental care due to cost, forgoing services due to distance and administrative restrictions by the health plans
  • Private insurance: supplementary, commercial and long-term care
  • Time devoted by doctors to patients, their coordination of treatment and their explanation to patients
  • Management of the medication regime
  • Evaluation of the overall performance of the health system.

The survey was funded with the assistance of the Government of Israel, Clalit Health Services, Maccabi Healthcare Services, Leumit Health Fund Services and the Meuhedet Health Plan.

Citations in the professional and academic literature

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Shmueli, A., Stam, P., Wasem, J., & Trottmann, M. (2015). Managed care in four managed competition OECD health systems. Health Policy119(7), 860-873.

Iecovich, E., & Biderman, A. (2012). Use of adult day care centers: do they offset utilization of health care services?. The Gerontologist53(1), 123-132.

Zimlichman, E., Rozenblum, R., & Millenson, M. L. (2013). The road to patient experience of care measurement: lessons from the United States. Israel journal of health policy research2(1), 35.

Zwanziger, J., & Brammli-Greenberg, S. (2011). Strong government influence over the Israeli health care system has led to low rates of spending growth. Health Affairs30(9), 1779-1785.

Chernichovsky, D. (2013). Reforms are needed to increase public funding and curb demand for private care in Israel’s health system. Health Affairs32(4), 724-733.

Shmueli, A. (2014). Income-related inequalities in health and health services use in Israel. Israel journal of health policy research3(1), 37.

Sperling, D. (2014). Needs, expectations and public knowledge concerning services outside the medical basket: A lesson from Israel. Health Policy117(2), 247-256.

Chernichovsky, D., & Eitan, R. (2013). Trends in Israel’s healthcare system. State of the Nation Report–Society, Economy and Policy, 1-28.

Nun, G. B. (2013). Private health insurance policies in Israel: a report on the 2012 Dead Sea Conference.

Deutsch, J., Lazar, A., & Silber, J. (2013). Becoming poor and the cutback in the demand for health services in Israel. Israel journal of health policy research2(1), 49.

Green, M. S., Hayek, S., Tarabeia, J., Yehia, M., & HaGani, N. (2017). A national survey of ethnic differences in knowledge and understanding of supplementary health insurance. Israel journal of health policy research6(1), 12.

Almog, Y., Rosen, B., & Habib, J. (2016). Accountability and Shared Measurement in Health Care: Examples from Israel. In Public Accountability and Health Care Governance (pp. 193-215). Palgrave Macmillan, London.

Hemmings, P. (2014). How to Improve Israel’s Health-care System.

Blum, N., Halperin, D., & Masharawi, Y. (2014). Ambulatory and Hospital-based Quality Improvement Methods in Israel. Health services insights7, HSI-S11027.

HaGani, N., Hayek, S., Tarabeia, J., Yehia, M., & Green, M. S. (2018). Fear of catastrophic health expenditures and unrealistic expectations from supplementary health insurance: ethnic differences. International health.

Citing suggestion: Brammli-Greenberg, S., Gross, R., Ya’ir, Y. & Akiva , A. (2011). Public Opinion on the Level of Service and Performance of the Healthcare System in 2009 and in Comparison with Previous Years. RR-587-11. Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute. (Hebrew)