After a prolonged delay, the Health Basket Committee in Israel is set to hold marathon discussions today to determine which medications and technologies will be included in the public health basket for 2026. This year, over 600 medications and technologies were submitted for consideration, with a total cost exceeding five billion shekels. However, due to budget constraints, many of these proposals were eliminated in earlier stages of review.

The committee has a budget of 650 million shekels to work with and has narrowed down the list to approximately 200 medications and technologies, which together amount to a total cost of 2.5 billion shekels. As the committee meets, significant deliberations are expected over which of these selected treatments will ultimately receive funding for inclusion in the public health system. This decision is crucial as it impacts the availability of new treatments for patients and the overall healthcare landscape in Israel.

The process is indicative of the ongoing challenges faced by health authorities in balancing budget limitations with the demand for new and innovative medical treatments. The committee's decisions can set precedents for future selections and reflect the priorities of Israel’s healthcare policy, potentially influencing public health outcomes for years to come.