Israel Healthcare 101

Written By Al Fusaic

Structure of the Healthcare

Primary Healthcare, Specialized (Ambulatory Care), Day Care, Emergency Care, Mental Health Care, Dental Care, Pharmaceuticals, Rehabilitation Care, and Alternative Medicine are part of the healthcare services provided in the state of Israel.

Financing Healthcare

Israel has National Health Insurance, which offers universal coverage for citizens and permanent residents of the country based on the Health Insurance Law of 1995. The local insurance system is commonly referred toas "Kupot Cholim," which in English translates to "Sick Funds". Insurance is available to all by registration.

Citizens and permanent residents are free to choose the following four health Insurance funds

  • The Clalit Health Fund

  • The Maccabi Health Fund

  • The Meuhedet Health Fund

  • The Leumit Health Fund

To compliment services offered by the four funds, members can purchase supplementary insurance and commercial insurance provided by private insurers to get access to fast services,  greater choice of providers, and improved amenities.

Employers of foreign workers, tourists, and non-permanent residents opt for private health insurance. The healthcare system is funded by deductions from salaries on a monthly basis (health tax), for which one can simply switch between the funds every six months after filling the transfer application form. Out-of-pocket payments are made by people with no insurance. Some prescribed drugs that are not covered by insurance require cash.

Investment Opportunities

Lucrative opportunities to invest in the State of Israel’s healthcare space include but are not limited to:

  • Digital Health

  • Personalized Medicine using genetic sequencing

  • Research and Development Initiatives

Start Ups & Technology

Israel is a home to lucrative tech startups and health tech companies comprising a large network. Notable startups include:

  • Mazor Robotics

  • Syneron Candela

  • Healthy.io

  • ReWalk Robotics

  • EarlySense

Emerging Technologies used by these startups to ensure provision of innovative healthcare solutions include:

  • Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence

  • Computer Vision and Robotics

  • Biotechnology, Augmented Reality, Speech Recognition, and Gene Therapy

Challenges

  • Shortage of healthcare personnel in rural and remote areas

  • Increase in wages owed to healthcare workers

  • Increase in health disparities including low life expectancy, high mortality rate resulting from heart disease, stroke, smoking, obesity

Solutions

  • Leveraging Israel’s advanced technology to create breakthrough medicines, treatments, and procedures will ensure accurate diagnosis and treatment for all.

  • Wide screening for early disease detection and campaigns will rally the population to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

  • The Government is to train more individuals for the medical field and allow resident students finish their residency early, in order to fill available vacancies.

Al Fusaic
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