Israeli Hospitals Face Growing Doctor Exodus Amid Security, Career Concerns

Israeli hospitals are experiencing a significant loss of physicians, with many either emigrating or not returning from professional internships abroad. Between October 2023 and the end of 2024, 50 doctors left Israeli hospitals for overseas, and an additional 53 specialists remained abroad after extended training. These figures were presented by the Israel Medical Association at a conference on October 19, according to Ynet.

A broader study from Tel Aviv University, reported in September, indicates a more extensive trend: 1,369 doctors are expected to leave Israel for at least a year between 2023 and 2025. This represents a near doubling compared to the 2013-2015 period, when 705 doctors departed. The university's research analyzed Central Bureau of Statistics data for all licensed physicians, while the medical association surveyed hospital management, focusing on hospital-based doctors and excluding those in clinics or private practices.

Key destinations for departing doctors include the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Reasons cited for leaving encompass security concerns, the political climate in Israel, better professional growth opportunities, higher salaries abroad, improved working conditions, and personal circumstances. The exodus particularly impacts specialties like psychiatry, internal medicine, surgery, otolaryngology, gastroenterology, and oncology.

Dr. Marina Kupchik, Deputy Chairwoman of the Israel Medical Association, highlighted the severe impact on psychiatry, a field already facing shortages that worsened after October 7. She noted that four female psychiatrists left her hospital in 2025 alone, with destinations including New Zealand, the Netherlands, and the US. Kupchik stated that while financial gain isn't the primary driver, security worries, anxiety for children's future, workload, burnout, and professional development are major factors. She also mentioned that improved work conditions, such as a four-day work week in the UK, are attractive even with lower pay.

Dr. Ze'ev Feldman, Chairman of the Organization of Doctors in State Institutions, warned that the non-return of specialists from extended training abroad harms the healthcare system long-term. He also pointed to an increase in experienced doctors, aged 45 and older, leaving, which jeopardizes the training of future medical professionals. Professor Ido Wolff of the Israel National Academy of Medical Sciences stated that the country is losing top specialists, including oncologists who have rejected leadership positions in Israel to remain abroad, citing personal security and children's education as reasons.

Orly Greenfield, Head of the Medical Professions Licensing Department, observed a significant rise in requests for professional integrity certificates, often needed for overseas training. The Israel Medical Association plans to establish a forum to study emigration causes and develop retention strategies, viewing the doctor drain as a strategic threat. Experts emphasize that retaining doctors requires more than just salary increases, necessitating better staffing, attractive packages for returning specialists including academic and research opportunities, and support for their families' integration, such as employment assistance, education, and housing.