Health Ministry Shuts Tel Aviv Private Hospital Over Serious Lapses

Israel's Ministry of Health has ordered the immediate closure of the private Medi-Care Medical Center in Tel Aviv following a surprise inspection that revealed severe deficiencies. The ministry announced the closure after uncovering a series of critical failures, including the employment of unqualified personnel in operating rooms and the performance of surgical procedures by nurses lacking proper authorization.

According to the ministry's findings, anesthesiologists in two operating rooms were not certified specialists, and there were significant issues with the handling of anesthetic drugs, contrary to infection prevention guidelines. Surgical counts were also reportedly not performed or recorded before the end of operations. The hospital also improperly used narcotic drugs, including Sol.Cocaine, posing a risk to patient safety.

Further violations included the absence of the medical director from the clinic, with her replacement lacking the necessary qualifications. Procedures were also carried out in rooms not covered by the facility's registration certificate. The Ministry of Health stated that this conduct "harms the reliability of verification and control processes designed to prevent serious incidents in operating rooms," characterizing it as a systemic failure and a danger to patient health.

These recent findings add to serious issues identified in a previous surprise inspection in July, which initially led to the suspension of operating room activities before a gradual resumption. The Ministry of Health issued an order to cease all operations at the clinic until further notice and summoned all involved parties, including the hospital's owners and management.

In response, Medi-Care stated that thousands of surgeries are performed monthly by leading Israeli doctors, adhering to the highest medical and safety standards. The hospital asserted that all medical procedures are conducted by physicians and in accordance with the law, and that nurses operate within their certified scope. They characterized the ministry's decision as disproportionate, based on random findings, and pledged to address the issues through the proper channels.