Israel Launches National Plan to Expand Palliative Care Services

The Israeli Ministry of Health is launching a national program to expand palliative care services in 27 general hospitals across the country, aiming to alleviate suffering for tens of thousands of Israelis with serious illnesses. The initiative will invest NIS 25 million this year and NIS 20 million annually starting in 2027. The program seeks to provide comprehensive support, including pain and symptom management, as well as psychological and emotional support for patients and their families, from the early stages of severe diseases.

Palliative care is intended for individuals with advanced, incurable diseases, but also for those facing significant challenges like advanced dementia or conditions such as ALS, where expressing pain and existential distress is difficult. Dr. Efrat Gil, head of the Geriatrics Department at the Ministry of Health, emphasized that this care is crucial, especially when communication with the patient becomes challenging. She highlighted that the approach focuses on improving quality of life, citing an example where a patient with dementia might be allowed to eat what they desire without calorie counting in their final days.

The program addresses a significant gap in current services, characterized by a shortage of specialists and disparities between medical centers and peripheral areas. While directives for establishing palliative units were issued as early as 2009, they lacked adequate funding. The new plan aims to strengthen existing teams and establish services in hospitals lacking dedicated support. It will fund full specialist positions in palliative medicine for hospitals and aims to train 20 new specialists within three years to combat the current shortage of only a few dozen experts nationwide.

The multidisciplinary approach includes doctors, nurses, social workers, nutritionists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and spiritual counselors. This team works to alleviate physical symptoms like pain, shortness of breath, nausea, and anxiety, while also assisting patients and families with treatment planning, medical decision-making, and coping with crises throughout the illness.