Augusta-Victoria Hospital. Photo: LWF/M. Brown
Payment by Palestinian Authority
(LWI) – The LWF-run Augusta Victoria Hospital has collected a substantial amount of receivables from the Palestinian Authority (PA) averting the recent cash-flow crisis. The payment went through in November as a consequence of ongoing advocacy efforts and goes towards covering outstanding fees for patients referred to the specialized East Jerusalem hospital by the PA.
“With the support of USAID and the European Union on 17 November 2014 the PA was able to pay outstanding patient bills with the Augusta Victoria Hospital,” LWF General Secretary Rev. Martin Junge said, adding that “while this payment covers a substantial amount of the due patient fees, all receivables are not fully paid”.
“With this payment, the AVH is able to continue delivering its relevant specialized health services” Junge said.
From 30 November – 1 December, the Augusta Victoria Hospital Board convened on the Mount of Olives, under the chairmanship of Bishop Dr. Munib A. Younan of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. The General Secretary expressed gratitude to the board members for their support in prayer and advocacy which helped bring about this payment.
Pillar of Palestinian Health Care System
The Augusta Victoria Hospital offers specialized care for cancer and dialysis patients. It is the first and only hospital in the Palestinian territories to provide radiation therapy for Palestinian cancer patients and is the only medical facility in the West Bank offering pediatric kidney dialysis.
In August, Augusta Victoria Hospital responded to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza by sending two medical teams along with essential medical supplies. Augusta Victoria Hospital also opened a department with 16 beds for casualties in order to receive critically wounded people from Gaza while the hospital maintained its ongoing treatment of cancer patients.
Reflecting on the challenges of the past months, the General Secretary underlined the need to receive ongoing regular payments for patient fees in the future for which ongoing advocacy efforts are needed. “This will even be of more importance in view of plans to begin bone marrow transplantation services”, Junge said.
The LWF continues to be committed to the future of AVH and the patients it serves. The hospital is a cornerstone of the health care system of the Palestinian Authority and an important institution in its overall infrastructure.
