Doctors Volunteer to Provide Urgent Care for Israeli Soldiers

A new initiative, "Doctors for Fighters," has mobilized approximately 450 specialist physicians across Israel to provide urgent medical care for combat soldiers. Founded by family physician Dr. Pnina Fogoda, the project aims to bridge the gap between soldiers' immediate medical needs and the limited time they have when returning from the field.

Dr. Fogoda was inspired to create the initiative after witnessing the difficulties soldiers face in obtaining timely medical attention. She recalled a case where a soldier returned from combat with an eye injury and had only 24 hours before needing to go back to the front lines. His mother resorted to private treatment to ensure he was seen quickly, prompting Dr. Fogoda to act.

"Our fighters sacrifice everything for us. In the few hours they are home, they need to receive the best medicine," Dr. Fogoda stated. She posted on Facebook, and within days, hundreds of doctors responded, offering their expertise in various fields. The network now includes specialists and department heads from hospitals nationwide.

The program facilitates rapid medical consultations, with responses sometimes arriving within minutes or hours. Examples include a commander with a dislocated shoulder seen by a specialist the same day, and a soldier with a chest mass who received an ultrasound and subsequent diagnosis of a tumor within a short timeframe, allowing for immediate further treatment.

Dr. Fogoda emphasized that the initiative does not aim to replace or undermine the military's medical system, noting that some military doctors are also involved and informal cooperation has developed. The project focuses on acute and urgent cases, not chronic conditions, and has handled over a hundred cases, with Fogoda estimating the number is closer to two hundred. Medical students, nurses, and other volunteers assist in managing the influx of requests.