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Israel

  • Israel spends 7.0 % of its GDP on healthcare, the 8th lowest across OECD countries. 60 % of the health care expenditure in 2012 came from the government, while 40 % was from private sources. Healthcare represented 10.5 % of all government expenditure.
  • Health care in Israel is universal and participation in a medical insurance plan is compulsory. Basic healthcare is a fundamental right of every citizen. Israel has world class-primary care – this allows it to offer universal coverage and high-quality primary health care services.
  • Community-based health clinics allow patients broad access in a one-stop-shop, and help avoid expensive hospitalization. Clinics are held to account through the Quality Indicators that track performance across thirty five key measures. Clinics are held accountable and helped to improve performance – but are not financially incentivized for good performance.
  • The National Health Insurance Law of 1995 requires all citizens to join one of four official, not for profit, health insurance organizations. Citizens can increase their medical coverage and improve options by purchasing private health insurance
  • Health care services are publicly funded by means of a progressive health tax, administered by Bituah Leumi, the National Insurance Institute. A certain proportion (5% ) of salary is automatically deducted for this purpose. These funds are allocated and transferred to HMOs based on a formula that takes into account the number of members, the age distribution and other indices.
  • As of end 2014, there were 85 hospitals in Israel: 44 general hospitals, 12 mental health hospitals and 29 specialized hospitals (geriatric and rehabilitation centers). In addition, there are 278 residential long-term facilities. 11 general hospitals are government-owned and operated by the Ministry of Health; 9 are owned by Clatit Health Services – Israel’s largest HMO. The rest are private – mostly belonging to non-profit, charitable trusts.
  • The ministry of health, in conjunction with local authorities, runs a network of public well care, prenatal and infant care clinics countrywide. Clatit runs its own family and primary medicine facilities, in addition to providing specialty care. Other HMOs operate their own family practice clinics in larger cities but contract private providers for tertiary care and in smaller cities.
  • Israel is considered the gold standard in family medicine and primary care – there are some that feel that the tertiary care network has to catch up and be similarly high quality for Israel to be considered right on top
  • Israel is considered the gold standard in family medicine and primary care – there are some that feel that the tertiary care network has to catch up and be similarly high quality for Israel to be considered right on top