Israeli Doctors Leaving Nation at Alarming Rate, Warns Medical Union
A new study from Tel Aviv University reveals a nearly 94% surge in the number of Israeli doctors leaving the country for at least a year between 2023 and 2025, compared to the decade prior. The chairman of the National Association of State Physicians, Dr. Zeev Feldman, has urgently appealed to party leaders, warning of a national emergency and a potential unprecedented health crisis if immediate action isn't taken to retain medical professionals.
The study, which analyzed official databases, found that 1,369 doctors left Israel for a year or more during the recent period, up from 705 a decade earlier. While some departures are for specialized training or research with the intention to return, the net loss of doctors is significant. The analysis suggests Israel loses an average of 255 doctors annually after accounting for those who return, a fivefold increase from the previous decade.
Alarmingly, approximately 20% of departing doctors in the 2023-2025 period were aged 45 and older, indicating that experienced specialists, not just junior doctors, are leaving. This trend is particularly concerning for fields like internal medicine, surgery, ophthalmology, dermatology, ENT, and pediatrics, where significant percentages of practitioners have departed.
Dr. Feldman attributes the exodus to the strain and poor working conditions within the public healthcare system, calling it a direct result of "continued budget starvation policy." He argues that the departure of experienced physicians not only impacts patient care but also hinders the training of the next generation of doctors. He is demanding a national plan to retain doctors, including improved working conditions, childcare facilities at hospitals, and better compensation for on-call duties.
Compared to OECD averages, Israel already has fewer doctors and nurses per capita, and lower national health expenditure as a percentage of GDP. The study highlights that while temporary departures are common, the combination of increased numbers, the departure of senior staff, and existing shortages poses a critical challenge for policymakers to prevent these temporary absences from becoming permanent.
