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.

Dr. Efrat Gil, head of the Geriatrics Department at the Ministry of Health, emphasized that palliative care is not limited to terminally ill cancer patients but is crucial for individuals with conditions like advanced dementia or ALS, who may struggle to express their pain and face existential distress. The approach focuses on improving quality of life, allowing patients to eat what they desire and when they desire, rather than strictly adhering to calorie counts, especially in end-of-life care.

The multidisciplinary teams involved in palliative care include doctors, nurses, social workers, nutritionists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and spiritual counselors. These teams address not only physical symptoms like pain and shortness of breath but also emotional distress, existential questions, and assist with treatment planning and decision-making.

Despite a 2009 directive to establish palliative units, implementation has been hampered by a lack of funding, a shortage of specialists, and significant disparities in care between central Israel and its periphery. The new plan aims to address these gaps by strengthening existing teams and establishing services in hospitals that currently lack them. The Ministry 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 specialists nationwide.