wfn.org | Norway to Help Ease Financial Problems at Jerusalem Hospital

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 16, 1998
HOSPITAL

NORWAY TO HELP EASE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS AT JERUSALEM HOSPITAL
98-CC2-10-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The government of Norway is providing funds to help
clear an accumulated deficit at Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem,
which will lead to a new model of management for the hospital in which
Norway is a significant partner, the Rev. Robert N. Bacher told the Church
Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
     The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the
legislative authority of the church between meetings of the ELCA's
Churchwide Assembly.  The council met here Nov. 13-16.  Assemblies are held
every other year; the next is August 16-22 in Denver.
     "There is a wonderful leadership team in place," said Bacher,
executive for administration, ELCA's Office of the Bishop.  "The
(hospital's) board has complete confidence in them."
     Medical partnerships are being formed to exchange technology and
resources, he reported.  The possibility of opening a cancer treatment
center is very good, Bacher said.
     "Cancer treatment is not generally available to the Palestinian
people," he said.
     Financial concerns for Augusta Victoria were heightened because of a
drop in United Nations funds for Palestinian refugees and the changing
health-care system in Israel.  To keep the hospital operating, the Lutheran
World Federation (LWF) provided significant funds from its reserves.
     The LWF is a global communion of Lutheran churches.  Founded in 1947,
the LWF now has 124 member churches -- including the ELCA -- in 69
countries representing more than 57 million of the world's 61 million
Lutherans.  LWF central offices are in Geneva, Switzerland.
     The LWF Council learned this summer that the German government
provided a special grant to support the hospital operation, and the
Norwegian government agreed to help clear the accumulated deficit.
     Augusta Victoria Hospital is located on the Mount of Olives in
Jerusalem.

For information contact:
Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Director (773) 380-2955 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html