Israel: Health Care

Health care in Israel is universal and participation in a medical insurance plan is compulsory. Health care coverage is administered by a small number of organizations, with funding from the government. All Israeli citizens are entitled to the same Uniform Benefits Package, regardless of which organization they are a member of, and treatment under this package is funded for all citizens regardless of their financial means. Generally, health care in Israel is of high-quality and is delivered in an efficient and effective manner. Partly as a result of this, at an overall 82 years, Israelis enjoy the fourth-longest life expectancy in the world as of 2010.
Israel has one of the most technologically advanced and highest-quality healthcare systems in the world. Hospitals in Israel are equipped with modern facilities and high-quality medical technology. Medical staff are trained from four to six years in one of the country's five university medical schools. The country is a world leader in advanced infrastructure of medical and paramedical research, and bioengineering capabilities. Biotechnology, medical, and clinical research account for over half of Israel's scientific publications, and the industrial sector uses this extensive knowledge to develop new pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and treatment therapies.^[4]
Seven Israeli hospitals have received accreditation from the Joint Commission International, an organization that sets safety standards for medical care: Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, Ha'emek Hospital in Afula, Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba, Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva, Kaplan Hospital in Rehovot, Carmel Medical Center in Haifa and Assuta Medical Center in Tel Aviv.^[5]