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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.

Source: www.gov.il

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.