Breaking Update
Government Approves 2026 Health Services Basket Recommendations
Israel's government has approved 2026 health service basket recommendations, adding 650 medicines and technologies for 107,000 people.
Today, the government approved the public committee’s recommendations to expand the 2026 health services basket.
The basket now includes 650 medicines and technologies at a total cost of 86.45 million shekels, benefiting around 107,000 people.
This year’s health services basket brings significant updates across many medical areas.
Notable medicines and technologies include:
Cancer Treatments:
- Advanced medicines and drug combinations for various cancers using innovative mechanisms, including immunotherapy, biologics, and personalized cancer treatments. Advanced pre-surgical treatments for head and neck, bladder, and stomach cancers.
- Genomic profiling tests to detect mutations in gastrointestinal tumors for personalized drug treatment.
- For the first time, complementary cancer treatments have been added: a series of acupuncture sessions for chemotherapy patients to help manage pain, provided under medical supervision in integrative medicine clinics.
- Expanded lung cancer screening for smokers, now starting at age 60 (previously 65).
Metabolic and Chronic Disease Treatments:
- Weight-loss medication for adolescents aged 12–18, combined with professional guidance, added for the first time.
- Advanced cholesterol-lowering drugs for thousands of Israelis to prevent recurrent heart and stroke events (secondary prevention).
- Medications for heart, lung, diabetes and complications, liver and bile diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney patients and dialysis, skin, eye, urology, osteoporosis, rheumatic diseases, allergies, and hematological conditions.
- New treatments for depression and attention disorders.
- Expanded eligibility for pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Vaccines, Technologies, and Other Treatments:
- Shingles vaccines for immunocompromised individuals aged 18 and older.
- Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) in IVF to detect mutations increasing risk for breast cancer and Lynch syndrome.
- Renal artery catheterization technology (denervation) for patients with treatment-resistant hypertension.
- Advanced glucose monitoring (“flash”) technology for pregnant women with type 2 diabetes.
- Medications for rare diseases, including genetic skin disorders, rare endocrine syndromes, and cTTP.
