The National Insurance Institute has issued for the first time a circular and form for the medical committees including of the deficiencies of which multiple sclerosis patients suffer from, with respect to which the patients are entitled to a disability stipend and worker’s disability. For the first time, the Administrative Circular established the patients’ rights, in accordance with the characteristics of the disease and its differences amongst the patients. The circular set forth that “during the initial period when the symptoms of the disease appear, before the clinical process and results of the treatment were clarified, temporary disability will be requested for a period of up to two years, according to the severity of the different deficiencies.” The Administrative Circular emphasizes that “due to the varying nature of the disease and the different manifestations, it is important to assess with the medical committee all of the systems that may be affected by the disease. Therefore, during every assessment it is important to clarify whether additional deficiencies exist which the patient did not complain about. Due to the debilitating nature of the disease, it is possible that when a patient is examined by the committee, he will not be in such an acute stage at the time of the examination. Therefore, it is important to relate to the patient’s conditions also for the period that preceded his appointment with the committee.”

Simultaneously, the form “Medical Information for Multiple Sclerosis Patients for the Purposes of Filing a Claim with the National Insurance Institute” was updated and redrafted. This form is completed by the tending neurologist in order to assist multiple sclerosis patients exhaust their rights, when considering the unique nature of the disease.

The individuals that collaborated together to initiate the amendment of the patients’ status and assisting them in exhausting their rights are: the Former Minister of Social Welfare, MK Meir Cohen who led the process, Dr. Ishay Ostfeld, the Medical Director of the National Insurance Institute, Ms. Limor Luria, the Director of the Disability Unit in the National Insurance Institute, Janine Wassberg, the CEO of The Israel Multiple Sclerosis Society and the consulting medical council on the society’s director’s committee.

“The form allows to indicate all of the deficiencies which an individual suffering from multiple sclerosis may suffer from and also refers to the “hidden symptoms”, such as fatigue, pain, cognitive deficiencies, sexual dysfunction or bladder control problems which are not always reported or referred to by the committees. This form also serves and resembles a “check list” for all the various problems which the disease may cause and thus leads to exhausting the rights in the best manner”, as explained by Dr. Ron Milo, the Director of Neurology Department in the Barzilay Medical Center and a member of the medical director of The Israel Multiple Sclerosis Society. Milo adds “that the fact the tending neurologist is most familiar with the patient, he fills out the form and a doctor of the committee cannot give an overall view about the gamut of the problems in order to exhaust the optimal rights.”

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease and one of the leading causes of disability amongst the youth and even children. When one suffers from multiple sclerosis, the immune system attacks the body and damages the axon nerve cells (myelin). As a result, the neuron transmission and the transfer of commands from the brain to the body and vice versa are impaired. Every patient is injured from the neuron transmission in different areas of the body. Therefore, the symptoms vary for each patient. The first symptom that appears in one quarter of the patients is blurred vision and even temporary blindness. Others suffer from extreme fatigue, shocks and numbness in the feet and hands. There can be weakness in one leg, both legs, or the hand and leg on one side of the body. There can be imbalance, extreme dizziness, pains, depression, sensitivity to heat, impaired ability to urinate, and sexual dysfunction. Some patients suffer from impaired speech, memory difficulties, the inability to concentrate, learning disabilities, difficulties of learning new information or carrying out tasks that require agility and complex thoughts, etc. The disease appears in approximately 85% of the patients, which includes seizures and spasms.

MK Meir Cohen: “The new Administrative Circular should significantly alleviate the condition of multiple sclerosis patients in Israel with the medical committees and the process of exhausting their rights. I am happy about the change which albeit may be a small change that will have a huge impact. Anything which makes it easier for the patients, should be welcomed.”

“Over the last few years, the medical services of the National Insurance Institute is undergoing a transformation which is based on the understanding that it is necessary to view patients who turn to the National Insurance Institute at the center of medical actions. The transformation focuses on the acts of the medical committee and requires the committees’ staff to take a proactive stand in order to assist the patients and help them receive all of their medical rights”, as stated by Dr. Ishay Ostfeld, the Medical Director and Chief Doctor of the National Insurance Institute. “As part of the change, a new channel of communication for collaboration between the medical offices of the National Insurance Institute and The Israel Multiple Sclerosis Society has been opened. The new cooperation includes a process of accessing medical knowledge, and allows the medical committees to receive the complete clinical picture and assist them in optimally exhausting multiple sclerosis patients’ rights. The National Insurance Institute and the Society continue to work together to promote the health and welfare of multiple sclerosis patients”, Dr. Ostfeld added.

“The Israel Multiple Sclerosis Society continues to act tirelessly to promote the health and welfare of patients suffering from the disease. The collaboration with MK Meir Cohen, Dr.Ostfeld and Ms. Limor Luria from the National Insurance Institute produced an unprecedented achievement for the patients with the intent of alleviating and assisting, as much as possible, when talking with the medical committees. Janine Wassberg, the director of patient services of The Israel Multiple Sclerosis Society said: “the nature of the disease varies from person to person and to date there are no “rules” how to cope with it. This is the beginning of an important, positive and essential transformation of the National Insurance Institute.”

According to Toby Sau, a patient suffering from multiple sclerosis: “the circular and the from will help patients with multiple sclerosis in speaking with the National Insurance Institute, which to date was a bureaucratic obstacle and at times even worse. I felt that when I contacted the National Insurance Institute I had to prove that I really have multiple sclerosis. This was despite the fact that I was already diagnosed in 2008 and I underwent several seizures that required medical attention and even hospitalization. We did not choose multiple sclerosis, but we learned to live with it. There are so many things that can help and alleviate our situation, for example, access, etc., however, now because of the form and circular, we feel that we have received a “key” that is important for the dialogue. There is no doubt that it is the exact opposite of what we have experienced thus far.”