Jerusalem Post calls on Israel to retain doctors and attract medics from abroad
In Israel, the editorial board of The Jerusalem Post called on the authorities to both strengthen measures to retain medical professionals in the country and more actively encourage Jewish doctors from abroad to make aliyah. The publication described the outflow of specialists from the healthcare system as an alarming signal that requires a response.
According to data cited in the editorial, 1,370 Israeli doctors went abroad for more than a year in 2023–2025. This is 94% more than during the comparable period a decade earlier. At the same time, not all medical professionals who leave for an extended period leave the country permanently: some undergo internships, conduct research, or obtain a specialization and later return.
Net outflow of medical professionals
After accounting for doctors who returned, the net outflow amounted to 509 people in 2023 and 2024. This is approximately five times the annual average of the previous decade, the editorial notes.
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In the publication's view, the government should determine the reasons doctors leave and create incentives for them to work in Israel. The necessary conditions include competitive working conditions, opportunities for professional development, sufficient staffing, and prospects for young medical professionals.
Attracting doctors from abroad
The editorial identified attracting specialists from Jewish communities in other countries as a separate area. Israel already has the International Medical Aliyah Program, implemented by Nefesh B’Nefesh together with the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, the Ministry of Health, and the Jewish Agency. The program aims to facilitate the aliyah of 2,000 doctors by 2029 by simplifying licensing and helping them find jobs.
The Jerusalem Post proposes expanding recognition of foreign qualifications, professional Hebrew programs, and support for families during relocation. The publication also points to the need for incentives for repatriated doctors willing to work in regions with the greatest staff shortages, particularly in the north and south of the country.
