Hadassah Branching Out to Russia?

Hadassah Medical Center of Yerushalayim is seeking to join a projected ‘medical city’ in Russia, although without the knowledge of the hospital board or state-appointed treasurer, Globes reported on Monday.

Citing unnamed sources, the newspaper said that the financially troubled hospital has “submitted a proposal together with business enterprises, and estimates are that it has a long-term endeavor underway in Russia.”

Prof. Asher Alhiani, a director at Hadassah and former Meuhedet Health Services CEO, said that since he joined the board in April, he has not heard of any undertaking in Russia. But if it does materialize, it could not go forward without approval by the board.

The government has provided the hospital with 1.3 billion shekels as part of a streamlining plan started about two and a half years ago.

Hadassah’s new CEO, Prof. Zeev Rotstein, has reportedly been exploring the possibilities for the medical center in Russia for several years, though without consultation with the board, which should oversee any major initiative.

Globes alleged that the state-appointed accountant has been intentionally kept in the dark by Prof. Rotstein, despite recurring warnings by Ministry of Finance Accountant General Michal Abadi-Boiangiu.