Doctors' Exodus Campaign Accused of Political Manipulation

A recent aggressive, multi-channel campaign alleging a "doctors' exodus" from Israel, culminating in the assertion that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is "dangerous to health," is being criticized for relying on partial data and being driven by researchers affiliated with protest movements. The campaign, which began with claims that Israel had "lost an entire major hospital" due to 1,369 doctors leaving between 2023 and 2025, has been labeled as an existential event and a "flight of hope."

However, the article contends that the numbers are presented with caution. It notes that time spent abroad does not necessarily equate to permanent emigration, and that internships or relocations are not permanent departures. The data for 2025 is still an estimate. In 2023-2024, 949 doctors left, but after accounting for those who returned, the net negative balance was 509.

The researchers behind the data, Professors Itai Eter, Netai Bergman, and Doron Zamir from Tel Aviv University, are identified as having previously published migration data in various formats since 2025. Professor Eter is also the head of the "Economists for Democracy Forum" and a leader in academic protests, having previously called for strikes. The article links this group to the "White Coats" protest movement, which previously used hospitals as a platform for political protest in 2023.

During that 2023 protest, major hospitals like Sheba and Ichilov operated on a reduced schedule, with protest leaders stating that patient care would be affected. One professor faced an inquiry from the Civil Service Commission for her actions. The article argues that the "White Coats" movement introduced aggressive protest tactics, including work disruptions and treatment delays, into the healthcare system, turning medical institutions into political battlegrounds and eroding public trust.

The author criticizes those who previously politicized hospitals and delayed patient care for now using the issue of doctors leaving as a political weapon against the public. The piece concludes by stating that if doctors choose to leave Israel, they should do so without turning their decision into a political tool against those who remain and entrust their lives to the healthcare system.