Dateline Jerusalem — The cost of living might be high in Israel, especially since salaries are one-quarter what they are in the States. But the cost of medical and dental care is an absolute bargain. Like health care professionals everywhere, physicians and dentists are overworked. Perhaps that is why there are so many incentives for doctors to come to Israel, and why medical school is so inexpensive.
One fundamental right of Israeli citizenship is the guarantee of basic health care services under the National Health Insurance Law of 1995. However, Israelis have received socialized health care since independence in 1948. Not only do Israelis have the right to register in the HMO of their choice, they are not denied coverage for preconditions or limitations due to age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, or state of health. However, national health insurance is mandatory. Coverage offered to all citizens is called a “medical services basket” or “Uniform Benefits Package,” which is government funded regardless of a person’s financial ability to pay. I opt for additional coverage that is provided at a relatively low rate. This supplemental coverage does take into consideration my age. Even at that, it is extremely affordable, the equivalent of less than $40/month.
Although dental care is included in my health care coverage, I opt to pay privately for my dentist. This week he charged me the equivalent of $20 for a check-up, which included x-rays. Where could I get that in the States? As for medical care under my coverage, there are no co-payments for appointments with my family practice doctor, and that includes having an EKG. Some specialists do require co-payments, but the most I have ever paid is $7, which includes unlimited visits to that doctor for a three-month period.
No wonder doctors and dentists complain about their salaries. Often they move to the States to make money, causing a shortage of doctors here. The rate of doctors graduating from Israeli medical schools has dropped considerably. Perhaps it is because of the extremely high standards required to get into and graduate from medical schools here. To combat the shortage, Israel offers benefits and monetary incentives to doctors from abroad to migrate to Israel. Several of Israel’s medical schools are offering courses in English to attract students from the States, Canada, and Britain. Although there is a shortage by Israeli standards, there are 3.3 practicing physicians per 1,000 population, much higher than the ratio for the States and Japan.
Forty percent of Israeli doctors are women. Israel has one of the most technologically advanced healthcare systems in the world. It is at the forefront of medical discoveries and inventions. As a result, people from around the world are traveling to Israel as medical tourists. They come because some medical procedures are not offered in their countries. Americans and others choose Israel for the quality treatment and low cost of surgery and in vitro fertilization.
One of the most popular destinations of medical tourists is the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, world famous for its therapeutic resorts.
Israel is ranked fourth in the world for the efficiency of its health care system, only Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan ranked higher. My doctor’s office consists of a waiting room in a hallway. The examination room is his personal office, consisting of a desk, computer, a couple of chairs, a scale and examination table. No files or charts. Everything is input into the computer so that my entire medical history is available for all my doctors to review. That way each doctor knows what the other is doing and what medications have been prescribed. This avoids all sorts of drug interactions and double doses. No secretaries or nurses, no notes to be dictated and transcribed. The doctor does it all. The computer spews prescriptions that are clear. No chance of a pharmacist having to decipher the doctor’s handwriting. Lab tests are free. By the time I walk home from the lab, my lab test results are usually already on my computer. That is efficiency!
L’hitraot. Shachar