The first International Rehabilitation Department Conference of the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD), “Lifetime Partnership,” will be held on Tuesday, March 25th, at Tel Aviv University, with representatives from more than 20 countries, including medical and rehabilitation experts from militaries, defense ministries, and health ministries worldwide. The conference will address the medical, psychological, familial, and social rehabilitation journey of wounded IDF and security forces personnel and released hostages treated by the Rehabilitation Department. It will present the groundbreaking partnership approach of all involved in this endeavor.
Conference sessions will showcase how the Rehabilitation Department has navigated unprecedented challenges since October 7th while managing rehabilitation efforts during active combat in Israel’s longest war with record casualty numbers. Presentations will showcase the Department’s transformative rehabilitation approach, including breakthrough innovations, advanced technologies, and pioneering research. The program will feature inspiring personal accounts from wounded service members sharing their rehabilitation journeys and offering firsthand perspectives on recovery and resilience.
In advance of the conference, the IMOD’s Rehabilitation Department is releasing new data showing that over 16,000 wounded personnel from the current war have received treatment since October 7th, 2023. An additional 8,300 individuals have sought recognition for injuries sustained in previous incidents unrelated to the current war. These new cases bring the total number of wounded personnel under the Department’s care to 78,000, with one in every two wounded personnel dealing with psychological distress.
Analysis of the current war reveals that reserve soldiers constitute the majority of wounded personnel (66%), with 51% being young adults aged 18-30 and 7% women. Approximately 10,900 individuals are suffering from physical injuries, while 50% of those treated have experienced psychological distress, including 2,900 with combined physical and psychological injuries. Of the total wounded, 6% have moderate injuries, and 4% have severe injuries. Seventy-two amputees have already been fitted with prosthetic devices.
The Rehabilitation Department maintains its “rehabilitation before bureaucracy” approach in partnership with the Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization (ZDVO) and IDF Manpower Directorate. This policy ensures immediate medical and psychological care for all wounded personnel while deferring medical committee evaluations for one year to allow for recovery and injury stabilization. During this interim period, the injured receive financial support based on individual needs, comprehensive medical treatment, and complete psychological care. Economic data indicates that the average annual cost per war casualty for treatment and support is approximately 150,000 NIS.
Looking ahead, projections suggest the Rehabilitation Department will be caring for roughly 100,000 disabled IDF veterans by 2030, with half experiencing mental health challenges. In preparation for this increased caseload, the Department has established a dedicated Customer Service unit that will work alongside enhanced technological and digital systems to streamline administrative processes for long-term disabled veterans and those recently wounded from the current war.
