Israel Reports 82% Surge in Medical Students Over Five Years
Translated & summarized from NEWSru Israel by baba
Israel's Ministry of Health announced an 82% increase in medical students over five years, with 1649 starting in the 2026-2027 academic year. Enrollment in physiotherapy and occupational therapy also saw significant growth. These numbers surpass government targets, and projections show continued increases in medical students and physicians per capita by 2030 and 2035. The ministry is also focusing on aligning specialties and geographic distribution with population needs.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel's medical student enrollment surged 82% in five years, reaching 1649 in 2026-2027.
- Physiotherapy and occupational therapy student numbers also saw substantial increases.
- Current enrollment exceeds government targets for medical student admissions.
- Projections estimate 2000 new medical students annually by 2030.
- Physician numbers are expected to rise 42% by 2035, with specialists up 57%.
- The Ministry of Health aims to match medical specialties and distribution to population needs.
The Israeli Ministry of Health has reported a significant increase in medical students, with an 82% rise over the past five academic years. In the 2026-2027 academic year, 1649 students began their medical studies in Israel. This academic year saw 1649 students start medical school, a 14% increase from the previous year's 1448. Compared to the 907 students who began in the 2021-2022 academic year, the growth over five years is approximately 82%. The ministry is also working on broader healthcare workforce planning, aiming to align the number and types of medical specialists with the population's needs.
The number of students entering other health professions has also grown. This year, 408 students began physiotherapy studies, up from 347 last year, and 541 started occupational therapy, compared to 484 the previous year. The number of students in speech and communication disorders (clinical логопедии) remained stable at 442. Since the 2017-2018 academic year, physiotherapy enrollment has increased by 63%, occupational therapy by 72%, and speech and communication disorders by 28%.
These figures exceed government targets. The plan for the current academic year was to admit 1522 students, but 127 more enrolled. The target was also surpassed in the previous year. Projections indicate that the number of new medical students will reach around 1700 by 2027 and approximately 2000 by 2030, a substantial increase from the 820 who started in 2020.
Looking ahead, the total number of physicians in Israel is expected to rise from about 37,000 in 2025 to 53,000 by 2035, a 42% increase. The number of specialist physicians is projected to grow from 20,300 to 32,000, a 57% increase. Factoring in population growth, this translates to a roughly 16% increase in physicians per capita and a 31% increase in specialist physicians per capita.
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