"Forum 21 - Protecting Your Right to Choose," a coalition of feminist organizations, human rights organizations, and health organizations, including ACRI, sent two appeals on March 10, 2025 to the committee that determines which medications will be funded as part of the public health “basket” demanding that contraceptives be included in the public health basket for 2026.
The appeals consisted of two main requests:
To subsidize all contraceptives for women up to age 25 in order to ensure access for young women starting their independent lives.
To fund contraceptives without any age restrictions for women who need them for medical reasons: for example, in order to prevent diseases related to the reproductive system or for women who would face significant medical risks if they were to become pregnant.
The requests focus on a wide range of contraceptives, including pills, patches, rings, hormonal and non-hormonal intrauterine devices, emphasizing the importance of giving every woman the option to choose the contraceptive method most suitable for her. Because of the difficult economic situation and rising cost of living, people have been forgoing all kinds of essential medications and health services, making it even more important that contraceptives are included within the health basket.
According to data provided by the Ministry of Health that was included in the appeal, in 2022 there were 15,720 women who approached pregnancy termination committees, 23% of whom were girls and young women under the age of 24. Among the women who applied, 57% had difficulty using contraceptives consistently and regularly. Additionally, a 2016 State Comptroller report identified the lack of access to contraceptives as a central reason for repeated applications to pregnancy termination committees. The Forum 21 appeal also noted that Israel lags behind much of the Western world when it comes to funding contraceptives; in many European countries contraceptives are funded through public health systems until age 25. It also noted that a policy of not subsidizing contraceptives goes against the position of the World Health Organization and other international organizations.
Forum 21 emphasized that including contraceptives in the health basket is a necessary step to reduce gender and health inequality. Women have the right to control their bodies, and this would help women plan their futures, and improve their health and quality of life. Additionally, including contraceptives in the basket would increase regular contraceptive use, since women would not have to worry about accessing or affording contraceptives, thereby reducing the number of applications to pregnancy termination committees, especially among young women. "The National Health Insurance Law is based on principles of justice, equality, and mutual aid, but the non-inclusion of contraceptives in the health basket contradicts these principles," the appeal stated. "It is unacceptable that financial cost creates a barrier to accessing contraceptives, which are part of the right to health."
Forum 21's appeal regarding subsidizing contraceptives for women up to age 25, March 10, 2025 (Heb)
Forum 21's appeal regarding subsidizing contraceptives for medical indications, March 10, 2025 (Heb)
Forum 21 Members: Achoti - For Women in Israel | Itach-Maaki - Women Lawyers for Social Justice | Isha L'Isha - Haifa Feminist Center | Joan Zack - Consultant and Educator for Healthy Sexuality and Sexual Health | Dr. Hedva Eyal - Health Technology Policy Researcher | Open Door - For Promoting Healthy Sexuality | The Association for Civil Rights in Israel | The Forum for Law, Gender and Social Policy at the University of Haifa | WIZO - International Zionist Women's Volunteer Movement for Improving Society in Israel | Women and Their Bodies | Kayan - Feminist Organization | For Her Health - Feminist Medicine | Women Against Violence | Knowing to Choose Right | Center for Women's Justice | Na'amat - Women's Movement of Israel | Bria Foundation | Prof. Noya Rimalt - Faculty of Law at the University of Haifa | Physicians for Human Rights | Israel Women's Network | Dr. Sharon Orshalimy