Hadassah Hospital Establishes Medical Center in Cyprus

Hadassah Hospital has announced the establishment of a new medical center in Limassol, Cyprus, with plans for a hospital in Nicosia. This initiative is a partnership with a Cypriot entrepreneur group, where Hadassah contributes its name, training, and advisory services, while the Cypriots provide the capital and operational management. The center will employ Cypriot doctors.

Hadassah anticipates business benefits from this venture, though specifics were not disclosed. The partnership is also expected to boost medical tourism to Israel, which has seen a significant decline since the recent conflict. This marks the first time an Israeli hospital has lent its name to establish a medical facility abroad. While Sheba Medical Center has expanded its global reach through its ARC innovation company, this involved establishing innovation networks rather than naming medical centers.

The project aligns with Hadassah's broader expansion within Israel, including branded medical centers in Beit Shemesh, Ramat Gan, and Netivot. The article notes that while government hospitals face restrictions on expansion, Hadassah, as a non-profit organization, is less constrained. The Israeli healthcare system is generally considered superior to Cyprus', with lower rates of preventable and treatable deaths per capita.

This international venture could enhance Hadassah's prestige and financial standing, following a period of financial difficulties. The hospital experienced cash flow issues in 2014 due to a fraud incident, underwent a recovery program, and reported smaller cash flow challenges earlier this year, which were addressed by the Ministry of Health and Finance. Meanwhile, its Jerusalem competitor, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, has expanded significantly, partly due to a large donation from WhatsApp co-founder Nitzan Kom.

Hadassah stated that the hospital network's establishment is part of strengthening Israel-Cyprus relations, adding healthcare to existing collaborations in energy, security, economy, innovation, research, and tourism. At the opening ceremony, Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog called the event a new chapter in the partnership between the two nations. Hadassah's Director-General, Prof. Yoram Weiss, emphasized the hospital's belief in extending medical care beyond its walls to wherever it can improve, heal, save lives, and teach.