Israel: health system review
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Abstract
The Health Systems in Transition (HiT) profiles are country-based reports that provide a detailed description of a health system and of policyinitiatives in progress or under development. HiTs examine different approaches to the organization, financing and delivery of health services and therole of the main actors in health systems; describe the institutional framework, process, content and implementation of health and health care policies; and highlight challenges and areas that require more in-depth analysis. Israel has a national health insurance (NHI) system that provides a broad benefits package to the population. There is free choice among four competing, non-profit-making health plans that receive NHI funds from the Government according to a capitation formula. The system is financed primarily from public sources via payroll and general tax revenues. Health care accounts for approximately 8% of gross domestic product (GDP). Hospitals and public clinics each account for approximately 40% of national health expenditure, and dental care accounts for a further 10%. In recent years the share of public financing has declined to 64% of total health system financing, while the shareof private financing, especially voluntary health insurance and co-payments, has increased to 36%. In recent years the Ministry of Health has developed strong capabilities in the areas of technology assessment, the prioritization of new technologies, health plan regulation, quality monitoring for community-based care, as well asstrategic planning, to set goals for population health and strategies for achieving them. Critical components of the Israeli health system include: a sophisticated public health effort, run by the Ministry of Health; high-level primary care services provided by the health plans; highly sophisticated hospital care; and a strong system of emergency care delivery.Citation
World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, Rosen, Bruce, Samuel, Hadar & Merkur, Sherry. (2009). Israel: health system review. World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/107953
Relation
Health Systems in Transition, vol. 11 (2)