Israel Reveals MRI and Elective Surgery Wait Times Highlighting Regional and Institutional Disparities

The Israeli Ministry of Health has published comprehensive data on waiting times for MRI scans and elective surgeries across the country, revealing significant disparities based on age, region, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), and hospitals. This report, part of a multi-year project spanning over five years, aims to increase transparency, foster competition among HMOs, and inform policy decisions. Since 2008, the number of MRI machines in Israel has grown from 10 to over 70, with a fourfold increase in MRI procedures.

Nationally, the median wait time from a doctor's referral to MRI completion was 35 days in 2025, 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 from 21 to 19 days. The median time to receive MRI results remained stable at six days. MRI usage increases sharply with age, with the highest rate among those aged 65 and older, who underwent 132 scans per 1,000 insured individuals. Women had more MRI scans than men, with 312,840 versus 255,756 in 2025.

Regional differences were notable: 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 time from referral to scan at 43 days. Jerusalem had the longest median wait for scan interpretation at nine days. Among HMOs, Clalit insured patients had the longest median wait times from referral to MRI, while Meuhedet had the shortest.

Elective surgery wait times also varied widely between hospitals. For cataract surgeries, the national median wait was 50 days, but at Carmel Medical Center it reached 202 days, compared to just 22 days at Laniado Hospital. Similar disparities were seen in nasal septum surgeries, craniotomies, spinal surgeries, and gallbladder removals. Oncology-related surgeries generally had shorter wait times. Assuta Ashdod Hospital stood out for shorter waits and fewer patients waiting over 90 days for colorectal, breast reconstruction, and prostate surgeries.

The report only includes hospitals performing at least ten surgeries of each type. It highlights the need for ongoing monitoring and targeted interventions to reduce wait times and address regional and institutional inequalities in Israel's healthcare system.