Israel Expands Child Development Reform Amid Ongoing Peripheral Service Gaps

The Israeli Ministry of Health is advancing its child development reform by launching a second phase on August 1, 2026, aimed at strengthening public services, reducing wait times, and decreasing reliance on private treatments. Since the first phase began in February 2026, over 166 new professionals, including speech therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and psychologists, have been recruited, meeting initial staffing targets by March. This expansion has allowed health maintenance organizations to increase treatment availability for children with developmental challenges.

However, the reform's rollout will be delayed in peripheral regions such as the Arava, Golan Heights, Jordan Valley, Negev, and Dead Sea areas until January 1, 2027, due to ongoing shortages of professionals and services. The Ministry emphasizes that child development services, which cover diagnosis and treatment for developmental delays, speech and communication difficulties, and motor challenges, should primarily be provided through the public system to ensure equitable access regardless of location or family income.

The Ministry of Health plans to continue monitoring the reform's implementation, bolster workforce capacity, and broaden service offerings to improve accessibility and reduce waiting periods nationwide.