Health Ministry Orders Closure of Operating Rooms at Private Tel Aviv Hospital Over Sterilization Failures

The Israeli Ministry of Health ordered the immediate closure of the operating rooms at Medica Rafael, a private hospital in Tel Aviv's Ramat Hahayal neighborhood, owned by the Meuhedet and Leumit health funds. The directive came on Thursday following a surprise inspection that uncovered severe deficiencies in the sterilization of medical instruments. The inspection revealed improper procedures in the operating rooms and central sterile supply, along with a significant shortage of staff, which the Ministry said posed a real risk to patient safety. Among the issues found were problems with the receipt of sterile surgical tools intended for use in the operating rooms. According to the closure order, all surgical activities at the hospital's operating rooms have been halted since Thursday and will remain suspended until all deficiencies are fully corrected. The hospital has not yet responded to the Ministry's order.