Israel Reveals MRI and Elective Surgery Waiting Times Highlighting Regional and Institutional Gaps

The Israeli Ministry of Health has published comprehensive data for the first time on waiting times for MRI scans and elective surgeries across the country, following a five-year project. The initiative aims to increase transparency, foster competition among health funds, and inform policy decisions, according to Health Ministry Director-General Moshe Bar Siman-Tov. Since 2008, the number of MRI machines in Israel has grown from 10 to over 70, with a fourfold increase in MRI procedures.

In 2025, the national median waiting time from doctor referral to MRI completion was 35 days, slightly improved from 37 days in 2024. The median wait from test approval to execution was 28 days, and from appointment scheduling to the scan was reduced to 19 days. The median time to receive MRI results remained steady at six days. Usage of MRI scans rises sharply with age, with the highest rate among those aged 65 and older at 132 scans per 1,000 insured. Women underwent more MRIs than men, with 312,840 scans compared to 255,756 for men in 2025.

Significant regional disparities were found. The Central District had the highest number of MRIs and the highest rate per 1,000 insured, while the South had the longest median wait from referral to scan at 43 days. Jerusalem had the longest median wait for scan interpretation at nine days. Differences were also evident among health funds, with Clalit patients experiencing the longest waits from referral to MRI, while Meuhedet patients had the shortest.

Elective surgery waiting times also varied widely between hospitals. For cataract surgeries, the national median wait was 50 days, but ranged from 22 days at Laniado Medical Center to 202 days at Carmel Medical Center. Nasal septum surgeries showed a median national wait of 89 days, with Hadassah Ein Kerem at 260 days and Northern Medical Center at 35 days. Other surgeries such as craniotomy, spinal surgery, and gallbladder removal displayed similar disparities. Hospitals like Shaare Zedek performed the highest volume of gallbladder removals with below-average wait times.

Oncological surgeries generally had shorter waits, with colon resection median wait at 27 days and breast reconstruction at 25 days. Assuta Ashdod hospital stood out for having both shorter waits and fewer patients waiting over 90 days for three cancer-related surgeries. The report only includes hospitals with at least ten surgeries performed for each procedure measured.

These findings highlight ongoing inequalities in healthcare access across Israel by geography, health fund affiliation, and medical center, providing a data-driven foundation for future improvements in service delivery.