Israel ranks fourth from the bottom in terms of hospital beds per thousand people, with 2.1 beds per thousand inhabitants, which is lower than the average of 2.4 in developed countries. In contrast to general wards, Israel has a higher average of psychiatric hospitalization beds, with 0.3 beds per thousand people compared to an OECD average of 0.1. However, Israel’s rehabilitation bed rate is below the OECD average of 0.5, with only 0.3 beds per thousand people. The Ministry of Health plans to address these issues by adding a total of 1,790 additional hospital beds over the next five years. This includes 300 rehabilitation beds and new centers opening in Jerusalem and the north, as well as an additional 245 psychiatric ward beds mostly in general hospitals. The Director General of the Ministry emphasized the importance of adding more medical personnel and increasing accessibility to medical care to improve health services in Israel and address future challenges.
Israel’s healthcare system faces several challenges that require immediate attention from policymakers and healthcare providers alike. According to a recent report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Israel falls behind many other developed countries in terms of hospital bed availability, particularly in psychiatric departments where there are only 0.3 beds per thousand people compared to an average of 1.3 in developed countries like South Korea and Belgium.
Despite these challenges, Israeli authorities have taken steps to address them through various initiatives aimed at improving healthcare accessibility and quality for all citizens.
The Ministry of Health has announced plans to add a total of 1,790 additional hospital beds over the next five years, including rehabilitation departments that will open new centers in Jerusalem and the north.
This move is expected to improve medical services for patients requiring specialized care and increase accessibility to healthcare for those living in rural areas.
In addition to adding more hospital beds, the government is also investing heavily in training medical students and specialist doctors across all fields and regions of the country.
The Director General of the Ministry emphasized that this initiative aims not only to improve healthcare services but also increase accessibility for patients who require specialized medical attention.
Overall, while Israel still faces significant challenges when it comes to its healthcare system, these initiatives are positive steps towards addressing them head-on.
Minister Uriel Bosso stated that “we are undergoing a complex period,” but efforts are being made to improve healthcare services for all citizens while ensuring better quality medical care.” By implementing these initiatives now, we can ensure a better future for our healthcare system.”
