In a dramatic move on the eve of the school year, the Yahal Association for Food Allergy Counseling and Guidance petitioned the High Court of Justice to stop the 'Medical Nurse' pilot program promoted by the Ministry of Education. According to reports, the program aims to place ten medical nurses in ten primary schools nationwide to test their effectiveness as a potential future replacement for individual medical aides who currently accompany students with life-threatening allergies, diabetes, and epilepsy.
The petition was filed after the Association claimed the Ministry ignored an ultimatum to provide written commitments regarding the continued full provision of care for these children. According to the petitioners, the Ministry initiated the move unilaterally without obtaining the consent of the parents of the participating students or offering them an opportunity to object. The core legal argument concerns the safety of vulnerable minors, with the petitioners asserting that the well-being of these children cannot be used as a testing ground for organizational or budgetary considerations.
The Association's legal advisor, Adv. Gilad Yitzhak Bar-Tal, emphasized the inability of young students to identify medical symptoms or take preventive measures themselves. Operationally, the model sought to place nurses in schools currently employing at least three educational assistants, with the nurse providing primary response and staff training. However, the program currently excludes students requiring invasive treatment. The petition demands that the Ministry halt the project or, at a minimum, ensure a genuine consultation process where parents can voice their concerns, alongside a clear commitment that current medical care standards will not be compromised.
The lack of response from the Ministry to previous warnings led to the filing of the expedited legal procedure. The issue raises questions of administrative procedure and the right of parents to influence decisions concerning their children's health in educational institutions. As of now, no judicial decision has been rendered, and official responses to the claims have not been published, though the petition highlights the sensitivity of school health services and the state's responsibility for student protection.