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| The Health Care System in Israel |
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| The health system has over 2,000 community-oriented primary care clinics throughout the country, operated by the sick funds, the Ministry of Health, or the municipalities. There are some 26,000 physicians in Israel, most of are salaried employees of hospitals and sick funds. The ratio of physicians to 1,000 persons is 4.6, one of the highest levels in the world. One of the factors contributing to the high number of physicians is the recent mass immigration from the Soviet Union. |
| The Ministry of Health operates a successful community health service: a nation-wide public network of 850 mother-and-child-care centers, which offers low-cost easily accessible services. About 460 centers are run directly by the Ministry of Health; municipalities or the sick funds, with the financial support of the Ministry of Health, operate others. The services provided include health education programs, regular checkups to monitor child development and a comprehensive immunization program (newborn to 5 years). |
| Ninety-five percent of all babies and children are immunized - a proportion higher than that in Western Europe. The inoculation system has changed over the years, with the changing incidence of diseases; some diseases, such as diphtheria and polio, have completely disappeared. The nation's comprehensive immunization program is a major factor contributing to the low infant mortality rate - approximately 6.3 per 1,000 live births. |
| Israel has four medical schools, each affiliated with a major university. They are the Hebrew University Medical School associated with the Hadassah Medical Organization; the Tel Aviv University Medical School; the Technion Medical School in Haifa and the Ben-Gurion University Medical School in Be'er Sheva. The Ben-Gurion Medical School, affiliated with Kupat Holim Clalit, runs a special program in community-oriented medical education with an emphasis on specialization for family physicians. In addition to medical schools, there are 2 schools of dentistry, one of pharmacology and some 20 nursing schools, four of which also grant academic degrees, in the country. Courses for physiotherapists, occupational therapists and nutritionists, as well as for x-ray and laboratory technicians, are available at a number of institutions. |
| Medical Technology |
| Sophisticated technology has become an integral part of modern diagnostic procedures in Israel. Close cooperation between medical research institutions and industry has led to significant progress in the development of special medical equipment. Among others, Israel's CAT labs and advanced microcomputer-supported devices, essential for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment in critical situations, are exported worldwide. Israel has pioneered the development and use of laser surgical instruments, as well as a variety of electronic medical equipment, including computerized monitoring systems and other life-saving and pain-relieving devices. |
If you would like more information about Israel’s health system,
please contact IMS |
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