Home Hospitalization Surges in Israel, Becoming Major Care Option
Home hospitalization in Israel has transformed from a niche service to a significant part of the national healthcare system, according to a comprehensive report by the Ministry of Health. In 2018, only 136 home hospitalizations were recorded. By 2024, this number had dramatically increased to approximately 38,000, with a total of around 115,000 home hospitalizations occurring between 2018 and 2024. During 2024, home hospitalizations constituted about 12% of all hospitalizations and 11% of inpatient days examined in the report.
The capacity for home care has also expanded significantly. In 2024, an average of 445 patients were simultaneously under home hospitalization, peaking at around 600 patients concurrently during the busiest month. The Ministry of Health equates this capacity to that of roughly 17 internal medicine wards.
The service primarily benefits the elderly, with 73% of home-hospitalized patients between 2021 and 2024 being aged 65 and over, and 56% being 75 or older. Common diagnoses include pneumonia, urinary tract infections, cellulitis, dehydration, and heart failure. Home hospitalization is designed for patients with acute illnesses or exacerbations of chronic conditions whose condition would otherwise require inpatient care but can be safely managed at home.
The home hospitalization package, as defined by the Ministry of Health, includes a medical team of a doctor and nurse, regular home visits (including weekends and holidays), on-call medical and nursing support, and a 24/7 medical hotline. While laboratory tests and treatments can be administered at home, patients are transferred for any necessary tests not performable on-site.
This shift, from a seemingly experimental approach less than a decade ago to a substantial care layer, allows patients to receive significant medical treatment in their familiar environment, close to family. The report indicates that much of this service is provided by external suppliers contracted by health maintenance organizations (HMOs). Tzabar Medicine, a major provider, highlighted that this model adds thousands of hospitalization days without increasing hospital bed capacity, fundamentally changing the perception and delivery of inpatient care.
