Israel Opens Five New Medical Faculties Amid Doctor Shortage Concerns
Israel has opened five new medical faculties in recent years, including recent approvals for programs at Ariel University, the University of Haifa, and the Weizmann Institute, as well as a preclinical program in Eilat in partnership with Hungary's University of Debrecen. Reichman University also offers a four-year program for those with a relevant bachelor's degree. These initiatives aim to address a long-standing shortage of physicians in the country.
Despite the demanding admission requirements, including high psychometric test scores and matriculation averages, the number of applicants to medical schools has surged. In 2025, approximately 1,200 students were accepted, a significant increase from previous years, with 1,446 accepted in the most recent year. However, the number of rejected candidates has also risen dramatically, from 546 in 2005 to 1,340 in 2021.
The expansion comes as the healthcare system grapples with complex issues, including a significant number of Israeli doctors training abroad, with some institutions not meeting Israeli standards. A 2019 reform has prevented thousands of these graduates from pursuing residencies in Israel. Furthermore, an estimated 1,300 experienced doctors have left Israel between 2023 and 2025, exacerbating the workforce deficit.
Salaries for physicians in Israel vary widely, with average annual incomes for hospital doctors reaching NIS 772,000 in 2023, though this figure is contested. Residents earn an average of NIS 23,000 monthly, while interns receive NIS 10,700. Experts note significant pay disparities based on specialization, seniority, and location, with some specialties like plastic surgery earning over NIS 1.1 million annually, while others like pediatrics and psychiatry earn considerably less.
Efforts to improve working conditions, such as shortening resident shifts in peripheral hospitals from 26 to 21 hours, have shown some positive impact, though experts debate their nationwide effectiveness and the need for additional positions. Despite the challenges, medical professionals like Professor Ido Wolff and Dr. Eran Dotan emphasize that medicine remains a rewarding and fulfilling profession, urging for systemic improvements to retain talent.
