The European Union provides about 9 million euros to support hospitals in East Jerusalem

The European Union provides about 9 million euros to support hospitals in East Jerusalem

The European Union, on Monday, provided an additional contribution of 9.27 million euros to help the Palestinian Authority cover the costs of medical transfers to hospitals in East Jerusalem. This contribution is particularly crucial in the midst of the enormous challenges facing the Palestinian health sector due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

East Jerusalem hospitals are an essential component of the Palestinian health system, providing high-quality health services to thousands of Palestinians from the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and Gaza. This support will enable these hospitals to maintain the provision of these services during the response to the outbreak of the Coronavirus.

Along with European Union member states, the European Union has supported the Palestinian Authority since 2012 with regular contributions to cover transfers to East Jerusalem hospitals, which have reached nearly 140 million euros since then.

The representative of the European Union, Seven Kuhn von Burgsdorf, said: “We are witnessing an alarming increase in the number of Coronavirus cases in Palestine, the healthcare system is overburdened and facing unprecedented challenges. From all the Palestinian territories. Through the approach of Team Europe, we have been able to mobilize resources from the European Union and its member states to help the Palestinian Authority confront the impact of the Corona pandemic. Our support for Palestinian hospitals in East Jerusalem demonstrates once again our strong commitment to the Palestinian people and Palestinian institutions in the city. "

East Jerusalem hospitals operate as major centers for specialized care within the Palestinian health system, whereby patients who need medical services unavailable in the West Bank and Gaza Strip - such as oncology, kidney care, and heart surgery - are referred for treatment in East Jerusalem hospitals by the Palestinian Ministry of Health. There are six health institutions in East Jerusalem, they are: Augusta Victoria Al-Mutala Hospital, Al-Maqasid Hospital, St. Joseph Hospital, St. John´s Eye Hospital, the Palestine Red Crescent Maternity Hospital and the Princess Basma Rehabilitation Center.

background:

Most of the European Union´s aid to the Palestinian Authority is channeled through the "PEGASE" mechanism of direct financial support to the Palestinian Authority, which is the financial mechanism that was launched in 2008 to support the Palestinian Authority´s reform and development plan (2008-2010) and subsequent Palestinian national development plans. It also aims to meet part of the operating expenses of the Palestinian Authority. EU funds currently support critical reform and development programs in key ministries to help prepare the Palestinian Authority for statehood. Since February 2008, more than 2.3 billion euros have been disbursed through PEGASE direct financial support programs. In addition, the European Union has provided assistance to the Palestinian people through UNRWA as well as through a wide range of other cooperation projects.