Jerusalem, 12 May, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Health Ministry estimates that more than 100,000 Israelis could be living with chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and colitis by 2030, according to a discussion Tuesday in the Knesset Health Committee. Officials said Israel already has one of the world’s highest rates of inflammatory bowel disease and warned that the number of cases continues to rise.
Committee chairman MK Yoni Meshriki called on the ministry to publish recommendations within two months on standards for specialized IBD clinics, including dedicated nurses and dietitians. Health officials acknowledged gaps in specialized training, access to care in Israel’s periphery, and infrastructure for remote treatment, warning that delayed care can lead to worsening illness, hospitalizations and surgeries.