HOSPITALS IN NABLUS MORE SECURE

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 002411 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR GOLDBERGER/SHAMPAINE/BELGRADE; PRM FOR PRM/ANE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/WATERS; TREASURY FOR SZUBIN/LOEFFLER/NUGENT/HIRSON; BRUSSELS FOR LERNER; PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR MCCLOUD/BORODIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON KPAL KWBG PGOV PHUM SUBJECT: HOSPITALS IN NABLUS MORE SECURE REF: JERUSALEM 2336 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: PA Ministry of Health (MOH) officials told Econoff on November 19 that recently-arrived PA security forces in Nablus have (1) removed armed militias from the hospitals; (2) allowed hospital administrators to implement visitor hour programs for first time since 2000 and to clear hallways and rooms; (3) discontinued the militia practice of forced medical appointments; and (4) allowed for the launch of Nablus PA hospital programs with area university medical students. End summary. Militias Forced Out of Hospitals -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Nablus-based Ministry of Health (MOH) Director General For Hospitals Maim Sabra told Econoff November 19 that Nablus hospitals have been able to serve patients "one hundred percent" better than prior to the deployment of PA security forces (PASF) to Nablus earlier in the month. He said that PASF have removed militias from hospital hallways and rooms, many of which had been held for exclusive use by militia families and associates. He claimed that health care professionals in Nablus hospitals are free of militia intimidation during work hours with PASF stationed near the entrances of the major Nablus hospitals. Visitor Hours Established; Hallways Cleared -------------- ¶3. (SBU) MOH Director General of International Cooperation Qasem Maani said that, for the first time in seven years, PA hospital directors in Nablus have successfully implemented visiting hours. Hospital entrances, hallways, and rooms are no longer crowded with patients' family and friends around the clock. Prior to the enhanced security environment, militia members would call and demand immediate medical appointments for friends and family. Maani said that MOH physicians have reported that the presence of PASF has ended the effective intimidation behind "forced appointments." University Medical Program Launched -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Maani told Econoff that Minister of Health Fathi Abu Moughli visited Nablus' two PA hospitals on November 18. Abu Moughli toured the hospitals with participants of a new PA program initiated earlier this month, bringing area medical students to PA hospitals in Nablus once a week to assist physicians and gain valuable experience, according to Maani. Without the improved security environment, this program would not have been possible, he said. -------------- For the latest reports on the Palestinian economy, visit ConGen Jerusalem's unclassified intelink site at: http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/pal econ WALLES