Really? And I suppose you think it was better when the most any Israeli hospital had was a lousy, overcrowded kiosk? I've spent a lot of time in hospitals here, and I've yet to see anyone forced to buy anything at their malls.

It's my own money, and I don't need anyone else to tell me where, when, whether or on what to spend it.

``Chana Siegel

nobody holds a gun to anybodys head, but it is all based on analyzing the psychology of the visitor. they have learned that by directing you through the mall, you will almost automatically spend money you otherwise probably would not have spent.
That is why tours almost always end up in a gift shop on the way out and there is no way around it. if you could leave and then go to the gift shop, most people would not 9or a significant percentage would not). By forcing you through the gift shop, or mall, they are seducing you to spend money you had no ointerest in spending.

Personally, yes I prefer the old days when i did not have to walk through a mall to go visit my friend or uncle or wife in the hospital. The hospital gift shop and cafetaria 9which is what Shaarei Tzedek still has) was more than enough for my needs. I didnt plan to go pay overpriced prices for some rugelach just because they are there, or a hamburger I didnt need to eat (because I already ate lunch shortly before I went to the hospital), and I dont appreciate being tricked into it. If I want something I will go to the shop, if not not. dont make me go.

"The hospital gift shop and cafetaria 9which is what Shaarei Tzedek still has) was more than enough for my needs"

Well, as my kids say, "Yofi lecha". Having had to buy toiletries after emergency hospitalizations, having had to wait in between tedious medical tests, having been stuck and bored, I was glad to have *options*. Sometimes I bought things, some times I bought food, many times I was glad for the diversion of the attractive if overpriced hospital mall. And the craft and trade fairs are always fun.

Nobody has ever been able to trick me out of a nickel I didn't want to spend. And I think most people like to have the option as well. If you don't want it, pass it by, but don't tell the rest of us what we should do.

--Chana Siegel

"it is all based on analyzing the psychology of the visitor. they have learned that by directing you through the mall, you will almost automatically spend money you otherwise probably would not have spent"

This isn't exactly new. My mother taught me about this when I was 5 or 6 years old, as I did my own kids. You can't avoid market placement at any mall or supermarket nowadays.

--Chana Siegel

Chana - I havent told anybody what to do, and I dont intend to. The hospitals have decided they have found a way to make extra money, and that is by putting a mall in to the hospital, and by directing the foot traffic through the mall. At the same time, they found it easy to rent their spaces to fast food joints with unhealthy food. The health ministry has decided that allowing this situation makes no sense - if the hospital wants to make extra money, it at least shouldnt be completely hefker, and the hospital is not the place for unhealthy food - at least they should only be allowing healthy food establishments to operate there.
you can spend your money how and where you want to. Some people are more disciplined and some are less, but you cannot deny that they built the malls the way they did to seduce the majority of people to spend money. My personal opinion is that the hospital is not the right place for that, but thats just my opinion. I didnt say dont shop there. A few months ago I had to be in Shaarei Tzedek a number of times to visit someone and I had to buy items for the patient in the gift shop (yes they had everything i needed despite not being a mall), and I also bought some food for myself and the patient from the cafteria/kiosks.
And when I had to visit someone else in Hadassah, sometimes I bought nothing and sometimes i did buy in the mall.
I am not telling anyone to buy or not buy. I am just commenting that I dont think a hospital is a place for a mall, let alone one that the people are forced to walk through.

This morning I flew over to what we here in Jersey call "the mainland", AKA England, to visit a friend in hospital there. Nearly all British hospitals, be they National Health Service or private, also have shopping areas.

This one had a mini-mart selling all sorts of consumable items such as cosmetics, soap, toothpaste, magazine etc, a flower shop (scheduled for closure next week), a Post Office and something else that I can't recall. So far, so good.

There was also a McDonalds, a Subway sandwich outlet, and a place selling Dunkin' Donuts.

We Brits could learn a thing or two from thestory above about the Israeli Misrad Habriut!

If the hospital thinks this will make them more money, who am I to begrudge them? They need the money; they use the money for good things.

By the way, many of those using these malls are hospital employees. I'm sure they welcome them.

There really isn't "unhealthy" food. If you eat the right amounts, anything can be healthy and anything can be unhealthy.

Just explain to us, Rafi, are we children, idiots, or criminals that we cannot decide for ourselves where and how to spend our own money? Which is it?

Who said you cant decide for yourselves where or how to spend your money?

I personally feel the hospital is not the appropriate place for a mall. and if it must be in the hospital, it should be on the side, and if I want to go I will, not put in a way that forces me to walk through it. I did not ban the hospital because of it. I just expressed my opinion that the hospital is not the appropriate place for the mall. Am I not allowed to express that opinion?

Chana and Rafi, I don't understand why you are at each other's throats. A) It's Rafi's blog and he can write what he wants B) The comments here allow us to disagree.

Given that, I approve that they should put their money where their mouth is and provide healthy food but we all know that 'healthy food' is more expensive.

I share the feeling that hospitals are trying to take more money but this is simple marketing - give the people what they need and want. On top of it, it is a voluntary tax. If someone wants to pay, then they are supporting the hospital.
Josh

In the end, the people will vote with their money. If enough people like having the shops there and spend their money there, then the shops will remain. If people mostly don't like having shops there and don't spend their money there, then the shops will go, and new hospitals won't bother allocating space for such shops. Forcing people to walk through the shops is obnoxious for a few reasons, some people can't control their spending and may spend more than intended (but this can occur anywhere, even waiting for the bus on the street in town), people aren't always very happy in hospitals and may feel it is inappropriate (well, that's life, sometimes things are inappropriate), and worst I think, there are plenty of sick people in hospitals and having the ill and visitors milling around shops in close proximity can't be very healthy when it comes to spreading germs around.

that reply should have been off the anonymous/Josh comment above...

I have no problem with Chana arguing. I have my opinion that hospitals should be hospitals, and malls malls. Chana can have her opinion that the hospital is a fine place for a mall. I dont want to be accused of telling people what to do, when I dont, but thats minor.
All is good.

I do wonder though, Chana, would you say the same if, say, your kids school decided that in order to bring in more very necessary money they opened up a candy store and a toy store right at the entrance to the school building, and many parents ended up spending money they had no intention of spending at these stores? I think it is inappropriate. What do you think?

I am all for free enterprise, but I think hospitals should be hospitals. I am not banning the mall. I have bought things there a few times, and it is definitely nice for bored patients and visitors who are able to, to walk around and see things (and buy). I still think that is not the appropriate place for a mall.

It wouldn't bother me at all. Both kids and parents need to learn to say no sometimes. My own kids can "squeeze that old dollar 'til that eagle screams", as the song goes.

And hey, how else are the shministim going to raise money?