Taglit-Birthright Israel and the Jerusalem Post held their first first-ever innovation conference on Monday, which brought together top medical professionals and thought leaders around the subject of treating COVID-19.
“Coronavirus and Israeli Tech” was broadcast on the Post website. It focused on technological solutions and pioneering products that are being developed in Israel in the struggle against the novel coronavirus.
The conference was moderated by editor-in-chief Yaakov Katz and news editor and health analyst Maayan Hoffman, and featured one-on-one interviews and panel discussions on a wide variety of topics. One of the panels highlighted “out-of-the-box thinking in the treatment of COVID-19.” Another looked at how business infrastructure and operations were impacted by the virus. And yet a third tackled how the military and civil society are working together to fight the virus.
Katz opened the conference interviews, speaking with Health Minister Yuli Edelstein, who stated that one of the main accomplishments of his ministry since assuming the position was the rapid increase in the number of coronavirus tests that can be conducted daily.
“We can do 40,000 tests per day,” said Edelstein, “and we have to increase testing capacity.”
Edelstein added that Israel signed agreements with two companies to receive the vaccine when it becomes available, but “we are still far from the finish line.”
He had spoken to the health minister of the United Arab Emirates, in advance of the opening of diplomatic relations, and said that cooperative ventures in the area of health care are being planned. “Corona shows us that everyone is equal,” he said.
Hoffman discussed a potential corona vaccine with Dr. Tal Zaks, chief medical officer of Moderna Inc.
Zaks said he was optimistic about the data thus far, and is hopeful that by next spring or summer after a vaccine has been released, that “we should be in a better place.”
Hoffman also interviewed Hebrew University Professor Yaakov Nahmias, Pluristem CEO Yaki Yanay and Dr. Zvi Symon, who discussed innovative treatment methods that they have devised to counter the effects of COVID-19.
Dr. Galia Barkai, head of telemedicine at Sheba Medical Center, explained the benefits of telemedicine and how Sheba utilized these techniques to treat the first coronavirus patients in Israel this past February. She pointed out that the fast responses that COVID-19 necessitated has led to a reduction in medical bureaucracy and has forced physicians to utilize technology to solve issues.
“Telemedicine is a necessity and can bring a lot of good to our patients and brings more value to physicians and patients as well,” she added.
One of the highlights of the conference was Katz’s interview with Brigadier General (res.) Dr. Daniel Gold, inventor of the Iron Dome system, who explained how he rapidly switched gears from defense research to helping get hospitals on track to deal with corona.
This included a rapid development of ventilators in Israel and linking all of the hospitals in Israel, in a matter of a few short weeks.
When asked what advice he would give for those who are interested in getting involved in these areas, he said, “Study, and continue to study.”