Barzilai Medical Center
Barzilai Medical Center (Hebrew: מרכז רפואי ברזילי, Merkaz Refu'i Barzilai) is a 490-bed hospital in Ashkelon in southern Israel. The Hospital serves a population of 500,000, including a large number of Ethiopian and Russian immigrants. It has 100,000 admissions annually.[1]
History
The hospital opened in July 1961, and was initially named Ashkelon Hospital. Construction was financed by the Ministry of Health with the assistance of the South-African Zionist Federation, the Ashkelon municipality and Mifal HaPayis. The building was designed by the architect David Anatol Brutzkus, covering an area of 8000 sq. m. In 1971, it was renamed for Minister of Health Yisrael Barzilai, who laid the cornerstone of the building in the early 1960s. [2]
Situated six miles from Gaza, it has been the target of numerous Qassam and Grad rocket attacks, sometimes as many as 140 over one weekend. The hospital plays a vital role in treating wounded soldiers and terror victims. [3]
Emergency room controversy
Plans to build a new rocket and missile-proof emergency room for the hospital have been hampered by Haredi protests sparked by the discovery of human remains in an ancient burial ground unearthed during construction activities. [4]
References
External links
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Coordinates: 31°39′45.18″N 34°33′37.88″E / 31.6625500°N 34.5605222°E