86. World Bank. Developing the Occupied Territories. An Investment in Peace. Volume 6: Human Resources and Social Policy. Washington D. C.: World Bank, 1993: 56 pp.

Volume VI "Human Resources and Social Policy" comprises an attempt to analyze options for enhancing individual welfare and labor productivity in the Occupied Territories. The main goal of this report is to present outlines for investment and technical training priorities in the area in light of the PLO-Israel peace agreement.

The focus of volume VI is on health, education and social welfare. A description of the health care delivery system in the Occupied Territories is presented. The main problems facing the Palestinian health care system as outlined by the report are: 1 ) excessive expenditure on highly specialized, hospital based procedures which do not benefit the disadvantaged sectors of society, 2) highly specialized procedures being performed by small units making the system less cost-effective and depriving practitioners from adequate practice for maintaining skills, 3) the low level of attention given for reaching the disadvantaged groups of the society, particularly women, 4) the proliferation of small, inefficient hospitals.

The report calls for setting up a sound policy framework for addressing the sectoral problems. It also calls for more coordination between the different providers of health care services. The report also calls for interrupting the link between refugee and employment status and eligibility for subsidized medical care. One of the main concerns of the authors seems to be the excessively high proportion of GDP allocated to the health sector.