Israel's Health Ministry announced on Tuesday that Prof. Sigal Sadanetsky has been appointed permanently as head of the Public Health Division. Sadanetsky, a specialist in public health and epidemiology, brings years of experience in research, management, and national and international medical policymaking, after long leading disease prevention and health promotion efforts.
She had been serving as acting head since February, after Dr. Sharon Alrai-Preis left the post. In recent months she effectively ran the division, including during preparations for an Ebola outbreak and throughout Operation "Shagat Ha'ari." She is now responsible for driving a major change in Israel's vaccination plan, with the goal of stopping the measles outbreak and raising vaccination coverage rates.
Health Ministry Director General Moshe Bar Siman Tov welcomed the appointment, saying, "I congratulate Prof. Sigal Sadanetsky on her return to leading the Public Health Division." He said the health system faces major challenges in the coming years, from health promotion and disease prevention to dealing with outbreaks and emergencies, and called her experience, commitment, and professional work "a significant asset" to the ministry and to protecting public health in Israel. He added that he expects the division under her leadership to deliver data-driven excellence and a major infrastructure upgrade alongside expanded staffing.
Sadanetsky said she was accepting the role again "with a sense of responsibility and mission." She said public health is "a cornerstone of society's resilience" and pledged to work with all professional teams in the ministry and the health system to strengthen the field according to current global standards and innovation. She said her priorities will include readiness for climate crisis challenges, overall preparedness for national emergencies, and data-based policymaking.
