Israel Faces Doctor Exodus: Study Reveals Alarming Departure Trends

A recent study by Tel Aviv University researchers has shed light on a significant increase in doctors leaving Israel, with 1,369 physicians departing since 2023. The findings have ignited political debate, with some attributing the trend to government policies, including the judicial overhaul. However, skepticism has also emerged, with claims circulating that many departing doctors were not intending to settle in Israel permanently.

The study defines a "departing immigrant" doctor as one who stays abroad for at least three consecutive months, over 270 days in the first year, and if an oleh hadash (new immigrant), resided in Israel for at least three years prior to leaving. Researchers emphasize that extended stays abroad for specialization or research do not necessarily indicate permanent emigration, though a sharp rise in such long-term absences is a cause for concern.

Data from 2024 indicates that 67% of departing doctors completed their medical studies in Israel. The highest numbers of departures originate from the Tel Aviv district, followed by Jerusalem, Haifa, Petah Tikva, Ramat Gan, and Acre. Notably, the current wave of emigration includes a higher proportion of experienced and older doctors compared to the previous decade.

According to Professor Itai Atar, one of the study's authors, 20% of departing doctors in 2023-2025 were over 45, a rise from 14% in the preceding decade. Atar stated that the departure of more experienced physicians significantly reduces the likelihood that these departures are part of a training process. Despite this, the majority of those leaving are still under 60, a factor that exacerbates concerns given the already aging medical workforce in Israel.