Israel Aims to Significantly Boost Physician Numbers by 2035
Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba
Israel's Ministry of Health plans to increase its physician workforce by over 11,000 specialists by 2035, setting national targets for specialties and regional distribution. The plan aims to boost internal medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics, while addressing shortages in oncology and radiology, particularly in the north and south. Enrollment in medical schools is increasing, and foreign graduate standards are being tightened. However, the plan does not directly address the rising emigration of Israeli doctors.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel's Ministry of Health plans to add over 11,000 specialist physicians by 2035.
- The plan sets national targets for medical specialties and regional distribution of doctors.
- Internal medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics will see the largest increases in specialists.
- Significant disparities in specialist numbers exist between central Israel and its northern and southern regions.
- Medical school enrollment is set to increase significantly to meet future demand.
- The plan does not address the recent rise in emigration of Israeli doctors.
Israel's Ministry of Health has unveiled a comprehensive plan to substantially increase the number of specialist physicians by over 11,000 within the next decade, setting national targets for medical specialties and regional distribution. The plan, published on October 15, aims to address a growing need for medical services driven by population growth and an aging demographic. The most significant increases are projected in internal medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics. For instance, the number of internal medicine specialists is expected to rise from approximately 3,880 in 2025 to 6,100 by 2035. Other specialties like geriatrics and emergency medicine will nearly double, while vascular surgery is set to quadruple. Conversely, specialties such as orthopedics, ophthalmology, and plastic surgery will see more moderate growth, around 25% over the decade.
The national program also focuses on the equitable distribution of medical professionals across the country. Currently, about half of all specialists are concentrated in central Israel, leading to significant shortages in the north and south, particularly in fields like oncology and radiology. The plan seeks to equalize the number of specialists per capita nationwide, though initial disparities are substantial. For example, oncology specialists in the Northern District only meet 28% of the 2035 target, compared to 89% in the Haifa district.
To support these goals, the ministry is increasing enrollment in medical schools, with annual admissions expected to reach 2,000 by 2030, up from 820 in 2020. The overall number of physicians in Israel is projected to grow by 42% to 53,600 by 2035, with specialists increasing by 57% to 32,000. The ministry is also implementing reforms, like the "Yatziv reform," to tighten standards for foreign medical graduates, aiming to improve the quality of training. Despite these ambitious plans, the article notes that the program does not explicitly address the growing issue of Israeli doctors emigrating abroad, a trend that has nearly doubled in recent years.
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