The Israeli Healthcare system

From 24 March to 28 March 2014, managers and chief physicians of Russian & Kazakhstan health facilities attended the "Health care system in Israel" seminar held in Tel Aviv, the biggest city in the largest metropolitan area of Israel. 42 delegates including the First Deputy Minister of Health of the Sakhalin Region and the head of the Department of Health of Pavlodar Region of Kazakhstan, took this study trip with much anticipation of the knowledge that awaited them. The main goal of this collaboration was to learn about the structure of the Israeli health system. This collaboration between Russia and Kazakhstan was not the first of its kind as there had been prior study tours to other countries like France.

In terms of efficiency, Israel's healthcare system was ranked fourth in the world in a survey of 48 countries carried out in 2013 and 7th out 51 countries in 2014. In 2015, Israel was ranked sixth-healthiest country in the world and ranked eighth in terms of life expectancy. This makes Israel a choice learning destination for the Russian delegates.

This study tour commenced with a visit to the Medical Center in the city of Rehovot and an introduction to the Israeli health system. Amongst the topics of discussion were the interaction between Health Insurance Fund organisations and the compulsory national insurance in Israel. The delegates had the opportunity to learn about the structure of medical facilities run by the Clalit Health Insurance Fund, using the Kaplan Medical Center and its affiliates as a case study.

During the educational tour, the participants had the opportunity to visit a total of 3 major hospitals in Israel, including one of the most renowned and prestigious clinical and academic medical centers in the world - the Hadassah Hospital. In each of these hospitals, the participants were treated to a roundtable discussion with leading experts and department staff where they had the chance to discuss major healthcare issues. Detailed presentations by the hospital executives on the structure and the management of the medical institutions helped the delegates to measure the level of healthcare development in Israel, which happens to be one of the best in the world.

At the end of the study tour, the participants all received personalised certificates for attending the study tour. They all praised Dialog for a highly professional organisation of the event. They left with insights and prospects of future partnerships and collaborations in the health sector.