Initiated by the Ministry of Health: Approximately 100 senior physicians and department heads from critical professions, including surgeons, intensive care physicians, and anesthesiologists, as well as approximately 80 nurses and additional healthcare professionals, will return to Israel tomorrow on a special rescue flight departing from Athens.
The return of the medical teams is a result of extensive activity led by the Ministry of Health’s Human Resources Task Force and Operations Task Force to locate, coordinate, and return public healthcare system personnel to Israel, for which the Ministry had prepared in advance. As part of this effort, an MSC ship departed earlier this week, bringing medical team members to Israel, while the first rescue flight is expected to arrive in Israel tomorrow.
Data compiled by the Ministry of Health indicates that at this stage, approximately 1,145 medical team members from all professions are staying abroad, including 567 physicians (out of approximately 35,000 physicians with active licenses in Israel), 70 interns, 197 nurses, 139 healthcare professionals, 27 system staff members, 37 administrative staff, and 107 additional medical team members.
To date, dozens of medical team members have returned with the assistance of the Ministry of Health and via MSC ships, and many more are expected to return, as needed and according to the situation, some independently.
Dr. Shoshi Goldberg, Head of the Nursing Administration and National Chief Nursing Officer at the Ministry of Health, said: “The operation of the healthcare system in Operation ‘Lion’s Roar’ is based on extensive advance preparation, drawing on lessons from the war and recent operations. The realization of the goal we set for ourselves – ensuring functional continuity even in extreme scenarios – relies, first and foremost, on the professional personnel of the healthcare system – the physicians, nurses, and all other healthcare professionals. Understanding the importance of ensuring broad and rapid medical response as much as possible in all hospitals, we are working to quickly return system personnel staying abroad – and are blessed by their willingness to return to Israel soon and join the effort led by the healthcare system.”
Hassan Ismail, Deputy Director General of Infrastructure and Procurement Operations, said: “We are working around the clock to ensure the continuity of care in the healthcare system and to create the logistical, economic, and operational infrastructure, including bringing medical teams back to Israel, out of national responsibility and full commitment to public health.”