Israel is a major medical tourism destination primarily due to its worldwide reputation for high quality healthcare and world-renowned medical facilities. Complicated treatments and procedures that would be unavailable in other countries are available in Israel at reasonable prices, including orthopedic surgeries, oncology and cancer treatments, fertility and IVF treatments and neurosurgery.
Patients from Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa are drawn to Israel's quality healthcare services.
Americans (mostly of Jewish ancestry) and Western Europeans come to avail of high quality medical treatment at a very reasonable cost.
Healthcare System in Israel
Israel's high standards in healthcare services, top-of-the-line medical resources, ultra-modern hospitals and healthcare facilities, and a very high specialist-patient ratio makes the Israeli healthcare system one of the most advanced and innovative anywhere in the world. Israel's reputation as a healthcare leader in various fields of medicine remains without question.
There are around 70 general hospitals and medical centers in Israel, the majority of which are owned and operated by the government and non-profit organizations.
The
Israeli Ministry of Health is responsible for the control and management of health policies in the country, including the standardization and implementation of health regulations among the various hospitals and health centers in the nation.
The Ministry of Health also regulates the qualification and certification of Israel's doctors and other medical professionals, some of whom have developed a reputation that is known throughout the world. Many of Israel's physicians and health practitioners have emigrated from European and American countries and are well-trained and adept in Western medicine and procedures. Most Israeli medical practitioners put a high emphasis on further education, enabling them to become experts and super-specialists in their chosen medical fields.
Top Hospitals for Medical Tourism in Israel
- Tel Aviv Assuta Hospital - Tel Aviv
This newly constructed privately-owned medical center was made open to the public in 2009 and is now considered as the most advanced healthcare facility in the Middle East. Medical tourists can stay in private rooms equipped with cable TV, Wi-Fi internet connections and excellent room and personal assistant services. The medical center is owned and operated by the Assuta Medical Group, which includes 5 hospitals and 7 other medical centers in the country.
- Haddasah University Medical Center - Jerusalem
Hadassah Medical is a non-profit organization which operates two hospitals in Jerusalem - Hadassah Ein kerem Hospital and Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital, both are advanced tertiary care hospitals who serve thousands of medical tourists annually.
- Herzliya Medical Center - Herzliya
Established in 1982, the Herzliya Medical Center is privately-owned hospital that offers technically advanced medical facilities and services, including complex heart surgeries, neurosurgeries and endoscopic procedures. The medical center is also the first medical institution in Israel to receive full accreditation and certification from Blue Cross Blue Shield of America for medical tourism treatments, procedures and other services.
- Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center - Tel Aviv
This ISO-certified health facility is the major healthcare provider in the Tel Aviv area and is ranked as the third largest hospital in the country. Established in 1899, the center houses a complex of three hospitals, a teaching hospital and research center, and a 5-star hotel that caters to international patients and medical travelers.
- Browse our list of hospitals in Israel.
Common Treatments Done by Medical Tourists in Israel
Hospitals and healthcare facilities in Israel offer top of the line procedures and services for medical travelers, including complicated medical procedures and treatment which include but are not limited to the following:
Cost of Medical Treatments in Israel
The following are cost comparisons between Medical procedures in Israel and equivalent procedures in the United States and the UK: [Sources
1,
2]
|
US Hospitals |
Israel |
Average Savings |
| Fertility Treatments |
|
|
|
| IVF Treatments |
$16,000 - $20,000 |
$5,000 - $6,000 |
68% - 70% |
| Medical Procedures |
|
|
|
| Heart Bypass |
$120,000 - $130,000 |
$20,000 - $35,000 |
73% - 83% |
| Hip Replacement |
$41,000 - $43,000 |
$35,000 - $40,000 |
6% - 14% |
| Bone Marrow Transplant |
$240,000 - $260,000 |
$100,000 - $120,000 |
53% - 58% |
| Knee Replacement |
$38,000 - $40,000 |
$20,000 - $30,000 |
25% - 47% |
| Eye Surgeries |
|
|
|
| Cataract Surgery |
$5,000 - $6,000 |
$3,500 - $4,000 |
30% - 33% |
| Plastic Surgery |
|
|
|
| Face Lift (rhytidectomy) |
$7,500 - $9,500 |
$6,500 - $7,500 |
13% - 21% |
| Breast Augmentation (Mammoplasty) |
$5,000 - $8,000 |
$3,500 - $4,000 |
30% - 50% |
| Complete Liposuction (lipoplasty) |
$4,000 - $6,500 |
$2,000 - $3,000 |
50% - 53% |
| Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty) |
$5,500 - $6,500 |
$4,000 - $5,000 |
23% - 27% |
| Botox (Facial Region) |
$500 - $1000 |
$350 - $450 |
30% - 55% |
| General and Cosmetic Dentistry |
|
|
|
| Dental Implants |
$3,000 - $4,000 |
$1,000 - $1,500 |
62% - 67% |
|
|
UK Hospitals |
Israel |
Average Savings |
| Medical Procedures |
|
|
|
| Bone Marrow Transplant |
£140,000- £150,000 |
£60,000 -£70,000 |
53% - 57% |
| Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery |
|
|
|
| Face Lift (rhytidectomy) |
£6,500 - £7,500 |
£4,000 - £4,500 |
38% - 40% |
| Breast Augmentation (Mammoplasty) |
£3000 - £5000 |
£2,000 - £2,500 |
33% - 50% |
| Breast Reduction |
£3000 - £5000 |
£2,000 - £2,500 |
33% - 50% |
| Botox (Facial Region) |
£340 - £400 |
£250 - £350 |
10% - 40% |
| General and Cosmetic Dentistry |
|
|
|
| Dental Implants |
£1800 - £2500 |
£600 - £1000 |
60% - 67% |
Malpractice and Liabilities Laws in Israel
In Israel, a medical practitioner can be charged with malpractice if he or she has acted negligently during the treatment of a patient, or if he intentionally neglected to treat a patient. Several law firms in Israel have placed their focus in this growing field, as malpractice cases are much more complex and would require more ample evidence and backed by professional opinion before any claims compensation are awarded.
Patients requiring assistance for malpractice and liability claims in Israel can seek the services of these professionals and law firms as they have more ample experience and technical expertise in this field. Malpractice cases can also include diagnosis failures, misdiagnosis, failure to render the correct treatment, and unreasonable delay before treatment is rendered.
Pros
- Israel hosts some of the most highly qualified and experienced doctors and surgeons in the world.
- The presence and availability of sophisticated medical technology, some of which was developed and perfected in Israel.
- The leading hospitals offer world-class medical facilities and equipment
- Compared to Western countries such as USA, United Kingdom and Germany, costs of medical treatment in Israel is relatively low.
- English and Russian are widely spoken by medical personnel
Cons
- Prices of medical procedures are high compared to medical tourism destinations in Asia and South America
- The ongoing conflict with Palestine and other Arab countries is a cause of concern to tourists coming to Israel
- Service levels at public hospitals are poor. Private rooms are scarce and the nurse/patient ratio is low compared to other medical tourism destinations in Asia.
Traveling to Israel
There are several major airline carriers traveling to Israel directly from all major cities in Europe and America. Most Arab countries do not have a direct flight to Israel, but can reach it through Amman, Jordan.
Average estimated travel time in hours
| From/To |
Israel |
| Moscow |
4 |
| St. Petersburg |
5 |
| Bulgaria (Sofia) |
2 |
| Romania (Bucharest) |
3 |
| Cyprus (Nicosia) |
1 |
| Greece (Athens) |
2 |
| Jordan |
1 |
| UAE (Dubai) |
3 |
| Georgia (Tbilisi) |
2 |
| Ukraine (Kiev) |
3 |
| New York |
12 |
| Los Angeles |
16 |
| London |
5 |
Entry and Exit Requirements to Israel
Israel has made arrangements and agreements with 65 countries wherein citizens from these countries will have no need for visa requirements to enter Israel. All they need to bring is a valid passport. Here is
a list of these countries.
Most African, Asian and Arab countries need to apply for Visa through the Israeli embassy in their country.
Statistics of Israel Medical Tourism
Thousands of medical travelers have visited Israel in the last few years to avail of the sophisticated healthcare and medical procedures that this country has to offer. In 2006, approximately 15,000 foreign nationals entered the country specifically for various medical treatments. Approximately 50% of these visitors were medical tourists from Russia and Eastern Europe.
Most of these patients come for medical procedures that are not available or very expensive in their home countries, including heart surgeries, oncology and cancer treatments, bone marrow transplants and fertility treatments - where Israel records the highest numbers of procedures performed compared to anywhere else in the world.
65% of medical visitors coming to Israel have undergone various medical treatments while the other 35% availed of cosmetic and aesthetic surgeries and treatments.