The Health Ministry released its 2023 equity report on Monday, revealing significant disparities in healthcare access across Israel.
The report shows that residents of central Israel and the West Bank have much better access to medical services compared to those in the northern and southern regions. It also highlights wide gaps between Jewish and Arab populations, particularly in infant mortality and life expectancy.
“A strong and equitable health system is essential to Israel’s social and national resilience,” said Health Minister Uriel Buso. He noted the report exposes major gaps between the center and periphery, as well as among different population sectors, helping identify key challenges to address.
Infant mortality rates underscore these inequalities. While the national average is two deaths per 1,000 live births, Arab communities experience a rate more than double at 5.3. The Central District and Tel Aviv have the lowest rates (1.5 and 1.8 respectively), whereas Arab communities in the south face the highest, with 9.2 deaths per 1,000 births.
Life expectancy also varies sharply. The national average is 83.3 years, with Jewish men living on average 81.5 years, and Arab men only 78.2—a gap that has widened recently. Arab women, however, have gained ground, increasing their life expectancy by 2.3 years over the past decade to 83.2, nearing the 85.8 years for Jewish women.
Medical staffing disparities are stark. Haifa, Tel Aviv, and the Central District have between 4.2 and 5.5 doctors per 1,000 people, well above the north’s 3.2 and the south’s 2.7, against a national average of 3.9. Similar gaps exist for nurses, specialists, and allied health professionals.
Hospital bed availability highlights the imbalance further. Israel averages 1.716 beds per 1,000 residents, far below the 2022 OECD average of 3.81. Haifa and Tel Aviv offer 2.3 beds per 1,000, Jerusalem 1.9, while the north and south lag at 1.5 and 1.4.
Specialized care centers are mostly concentrated in the center. Sixty percent of oncology treatments occur at four major central hospitals, leaving peripheral areas underserved.
The report also exposes workforce imbalances among population groups. Haredi representation in medical professions is nearly nonexistent, with almost no Haredi medical students in 2023. In contrast, Arab citizens, making up about 21% of the population, represent 25% of physicians, 27% of nurses, and 49% of pharmacists. Notably, 75% of Arab medical students study abroad, highlighting barriers to entering Israeli medical schools.
Between 2024 and 2025, the Health Ministry invested over NIS 300 million ($85.9 million) in targeted programs to improve healthcare infrastructure and reduce disparities in the periphery, focusing on Arab, Haredi, and Ethiopian communities. Additional funding supports mental health, child development, and addiction treatment services in underserved areas.
Health funds received incentives to open new services, including a NIS 100 million ($28.6 million) fund dedicated to healthcare infrastructure in Arab towns with low accessibility. National hospital funding also favors periphery hospitals.
Strategic reforms aim to boost staffing in critical professions, upgrade community clinics, and expand mental health, child development, nursing, and addiction programs with a focus on regional equity.
“Addressing inequality was a major challenge before the war and has intensified during 20 months of conflict,” said ministry director-general Moshe Bar Siman-Tov. Minister Buso emphasized, “Our duty is to provide every Israeli citizen with proper medical care, without distinction or barriers.”
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