The Government of Finland contributed €2.5 million to the cash flow problems of East Jerusalem hospitals to fill the gap in light of the Palestinian Authority's financial crisis following a two-month freeze of tax revenues by Israel.
According to a European Union Press release published Thursday, the financial contribution aimed at health care institutions and channeled through the PEGASE mechanism is expected to help cover part of outstanding costs of referrals of patients for treatment to East Jerusalem Hospitals by the Ministry of Health.
With an overall contribution of €38.5 million since 2012, the European Union and donors have supported referral costs over a period of two years (January 2012 to December 2013) for patients referred for treatment in East Jerusalem Hospitals by the health ministry.
By addressing the severe debt problem, hospital facilities remained open and medical staff continued working to provide much-needed specialized health services to patients from across West Bank and Gaza.
The EU mobilizes these funds through the ad hoc PEGASE window in close coordination with the Ministry of Finance and in line with the jointly agreed upon criteria.
“East Jerusalem Hospitals are one of the few operational Palestinian institutions in the city that do not just serve Jerusalemites but also Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza Strip', said the EU Representative John Gatt-Rutter.
He added, 'This [contribution] demonstrates once again the fruitful cooperation between the EU and its Member States in supporting the Palestinian people.'
Finland’s Representative in Ramallah Ambassador Pirkko-Liisa Kyöstilä confirmed Finland’s commitment to support the Palestinians and especially provision of basic services such as health.