Israel's Public Health System Shows Shorter MRI and Elective Surgery Wait Times Than Other Countries

The Israeli Ministry of Health released a report analyzing wait times for MRI scans and elective surgeries within the public healthcare system. The report highlights that for five selected elective surgeries, Israel's wait times are shorter compared to the OECD average, particularly for oncological procedures such as bowel and breast cancer surgeries. However, longer waits were noted for ENT surgeries, often due to the younger age of pediatric patients requiring postponement.

The report also compares surgical volumes and wait times across major hospitals. Shaare Zedek Medical Center leads in the number of surgeries performed across multiple categories, including hernia repairs, cataract surgeries, prostatectomies, gallbladder removals, and button battery extractions. Ichilov excels in eye vitreous surgeries, thyroidectomies, orthopedics (notably related to electric scooters and bikes), hip replacements, spinal surgeries, and neurosurgery. Sheba Medical Center stands out in breast reconstruction, hysterectomies, and vitreous surgeries, while Rambam is prominent in nasal septum corrections and arthroscopy. Sharon Hospital specializes in knee replacements, and Soroka performs the highest number of bariatric surgeries.

MRI wait times from referral to health fund approval range from 0 to 19 days, with an average of 25.3 to 54.7 days from approval to scan, and an additional 8.5 to 10.8 days for interpretation. Although these waits remain significant, they are shorter than those in countries with public health systems like Canada, Sweden, and Norway. This improvement is attributed to more efficient MRI machine utilization, including 24-hour operation, despite Israel having fewer MRI units per capita. From 2008 to 2025, the number of MRI machines increased from 10 to 70, with the Ministry deliberately limiting machines to avoid unnecessary costly tests.

The report notes persistent regional disparities, with Jerusalem patients more likely to receive scans locally (94%) compared to 76% in the south and 65% in the north. Longer waits occur for breast and abdominal-pelvic scans due to longer protocols, while musculoskeletal scans have shorter waits. Between 2024 and 2025, MRI exams increased by 9% without lengthening wait times. The Ministry has also expanded professional training and incentives to increase imaging availability.

Median wait times for various surgeries range from 25 days for breast reconstruction to 89 days for nasal septum correction. The Ministry continues to monitor and adjust capacity to balance accessibility and cost-effectiveness in the public health system.