Israel Boosts Northern Health Services with Millions in Funding

The Israeli government has approved a significant expansion of healthcare services in Kiryat Shmona and the Upper Galilee region, increasing funding from NIS 30 million to approximately NIS 70 million. This financial boost is part of a broader government decision to strengthen Kiryat Shmona, Metula, and Shlomi.

The additional funding will ensure the continued operation of the city's urgent medical care center in its current format until the end of 2026. This center currently operates during hours when health fund clinics are closed, providing supplementary medical care to residents of the city and surrounding areas. Starting in January 2027, the service will be substantially enhanced, transforming into an independent center operating 24/7, independent of health fund hours. The expanded service will be available to members of all health funds and to soldiers serving in the region. Additionally, a new intensive care ambulance will be added to Kiryat Shmona as part of efforts to bolster emergency medical services in the north.

The enhanced center will offer more comprehensive care than the current "Bikur Rofeh" (doctor's visit) service. It will feature an emergency medicine specialist capable of providing services such as casting, resuscitation, stabilizing cardiac events, and administering medication for stroke patients. In the three months since its inception, the current center has already performed over 20 resuscitations.

This upgrade comes as approximately 30% of Kiryat Shmona's residents have not returned to the city since being evacuated due to security concerns, with many citing inadequate medical services as a primary obstacle. The need for improved healthcare access in the north has been a pressing issue since the start of the war, especially as evacuated residents experienced better medical accessibility in central Israel, highlighting the necessity of a comparable alternative to encourage their return.