JERUSALEM, Tuesday, August 2, 2022 (WAFA) - The European Union, Finland, and Italy have made a contribution of €15.678 million to the Palestinian Authority, supporting the payment of medical referrals to East Jerusalem hospitals, today said a press release issued by the Office of the European Union Representative in Jerusalem.

This contribution is funded by the EU (€13 million),  the Government of Finland (€1.678 million) and the Government of Italy (€1 million), said the release. 

The support to East Jerusalem hospitals, which is provided through the Palestinian Authority, will help the hospitals to provide much needed services to Palestinian patients coming from the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza.  

Since 2012, the EU and its Member States have supported the Palestinian Authority with regular contributions to the payment of referrals to East Jerusalem hospitals that have reached over €141 million. These hospitals are an integral part of the Palestinian healthcare system providing specialized services that cannot be found elsewhere in the West Bank and in Gaza.

"Through the support of the European Union and its Member States today, we reaffirm our commitment towards maintaining access to specialized medical services for all Palestinians, in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza. The East Jerusalem hospitals are among the few Palestinian institutions still working in the city. Their presence helps both maintain the Palestinian character of the city and ensure that high quality medical services are provided to Palestinian citizens. This contribution demonstrates our strong and solid commitment towards the Palestinians and their aspiration of a future independent Palestinian State", said the Deputy European Union Representative Maria Velasco. 

“Italy has long been supporting East Jerusalem hospitals, in line with its multiple efforts to increase access to high-quality health services for all Palestinians. East Jerusalem hospitals play a crucial role in this respect, being the major providers of specialized treatments that are not yet available in the West Bank and Gaza. With this contribution, we intend to immediately support the Palestinian Authority’s capacity to pay for the treatment of referred patients, but also to encourage a wider reform aimed at strengthening the resilience and sustainability of the Palestinian health system” said Giuseppe Fedele, Consul General of Italy in Jerusalem.

“Finland, together with the European Union and other Member States, continues to support the East Jerusalem hospitals to ensure that they serve Palestinian patients from East Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank with high quality health care. Our direct financial support through PEGASE creates stability and alleviates life of Palestinian families in need of specialized health services", said Ambassador Päivi Peltokoski, the Representative of Finland. 
T. R.