Dozens of participants attended the MedEx fair, which was recently held in Buenos Aires, Argentina - the first of its kind on South American soil. MedEx was created to aid Jewish doctors from around the world in their Aliyah and integration into the Israeli healthcare system, streamlining the medical bureaucratic process.
5 View gallery
Dozens of doctors take part in first MedEx event in South America
(Photo: Martin Roisman)
One of the participants was Lila Yakar, 31, who plans to complete her surgical residency at a hospital in northern Buenos Aires in about a month and a half. “Life here as a doctor is very complex. We work long hours and don’t earn what we should. I know that the situation isn’t perfect in Israel either, but it is much better than in Argentina,” she said. “Here, there are many shifts, and you have to put in a lot of effort for very little money.”
MedEx was held as part of a national healthcare program led by the Israeli Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, the Ministry of Health, and Nefesh B’Nefesh, in partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Marcus Foundation, the Gottesman Fund and the Jewish Federations of North America – UIA . “I enjoyed hearing the information at the event. They explained that it would be easy to integrate into the Israeli medical system after my residency and that I would only need to pass two exams to become a doctor in Israel,” Lila explained.
In 2001, Lila’s parents considered making Aliyah with her family in the midst of an economic crisis in Argentina, but it never materialized. “Now I have the opportunity to make Aliyah after my professional training. The State of Israel provides a lot of support to new immigrants, I have family and friends there, and it will be easier for me to move to Israel than to any other country,” she explains.
5 View gallery
חאבייר חררדו מיליי נשיא ארגנטינה ויצחק הרצוג נשיא המדינה בביקור בקיבוץ ניר עוז
(צילום: תומר שונם הלוי)
Argentinian President Javier Milei is an ardent supporter of Israel, but what about the Argentinian population today?
“In the past year, I’ve heard a lot about antisemitism, which I hadn’t heard about the year before, and I see that it is on the rise. I think that much of it is due to the media portraying Israel as the enemy or the villain in the story– the one attacking Gaza.
Many people don’t know what is really happening and speak without fully understanding. Argentina has one of the largest Jewish communities in the world. I have many Jewish friends, and I live in a Jewish atmosphere, so I don’t hear it much. However, I also work in a hospital with many non-Jewish people. They don’t know much about Jews or Israel, and there is ignorance, but I explain it to them.”
The possibility of becoming a surgeon in Israel is especially appealing to Lila during this period. “I’ve thought about it a lot,” she said. “On October 7th, I was following the news all the time, I was very affected by it, and it was hard for me to sleep those first few days. Working in Israel and strengthening the healthcare system is especially important now. I haven’t decided about moving to Israel yet, but I’m very seriously considering it.”
Another participant at the event was Claudia Moravchik, who specializes in intensive care as well as pain and palliative medicine. She is married and has three children. "My husband and I have always thought about Aliyah. We even traveled together as a family to Israel twice to visit our family and friends there," she shared. "Now we're planning on making Aliyah. My children are grown up, and they will decide if it’s what they want and if it is the right time for them to do it."
“When October 7th happened, my first instinct was that I need to be there, in Israel,” she shared. “I signed up to volunteer, in order to help treat the wounded, but in the end I was not contacted.”
Regarding the attitude towards Jews and Israel in Argentina, Moravchik said, "Our current president openly supports the people of Israel and the Land of Israel, not only in words but also through actions. However, unfortunately in Argentina, the wonderful country where I was born and still reside in, we experience two realities. On the one hand, we have the freedom to live openly and freely as Jews.
On the other hand, there are Antisemitic and anti-Zionist activities in both the private and public sectors. We have openly anti-Zionist politicians who, of course, deny being antisemitic. The war has reignited demonstrations against Israel. It's important to remember that our country has experienced two major attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets, and justice has not yet been accomplished.”
‘A Warm and Zionist Community’
MedEx, which was held amidst the shortage of doctors in Israel and as part of the "Atid" fair for the local Jewish community, was also attended by 60 Jewish medical professionals, including many from neighboring Uruguay. The initiative which was launched eight years ago in North America, has since expanded to other countries worldwide.
The program aims to accelerate the Aliyah of approximately 2,000 Jewish doctors from around the world over the next five years. Partners in the national program include the Negev, Galilee and National Resilience Ministry, the Marcus Foundation, the Gottesman Foundation and the Jewish Federation of North America-UIA. The first MedEx event outside of North America took place at the end of March in Paris, and additional events are expected to take place in other locations.
During the conference, the participants met with representatives from the Ministry of Health and the Israeli Medical Association to arrange work permits and ensure a smooth transition into Israel’s healthcare system, prior to their arrival. The initiative was established in response to the manpower shortage in the Israeli healthcare system, which has worsened over the years, according to reports from the World Health Organization and the OECD.
The future doctors met with the head of the directorate for immigrant doctors at the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, Dr. Efrat Aflalo, received information about official procedures and grants, and converted their medical licenses so that their specialties would be recognized in Israel.
Participants were also able to interview with representatives of the Maccabi, Clalit, Leumit and Meuhedet health insurance funds, as well as leading hospitals from across the country, including Ichilov, Hadassah, Barzilai, Assuta Ashdod, Carmel Medical Center and others. A significant emphasis was placed on employment and integration options in Israel’s periphery, as part of a new grant program through the Ministry for the Development of the Negev and the Galilee and the T’kuma government administration in the Gaza Envelope.
5 View gallery
MedEx made to facilitate transition of doctors into the Israeli healthcare system
(Photo: Martin Roisman)
The Director General of the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, Adv. Avichai Kahana, attended the event, as well as co-founders of Nefesh B'Nefesh, Tony Gelbart and Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, Deputy Director for Aliyah and Integration at the Jewish Agency, Shay Felber, and representatives from the Ministry of Health.
“The first ever MedEx in Argentina is truly groundbreaking,” said Minister of Aliyah and Integration, MK Ofir Sofer. “In the past six months, we have held MedEx events in New York and, for the first time, also in Paris. In addition to the establishment of the Physicians Olim Directorate within the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, we intend to assist and integrate many Jewish physicians into the Israeli healthcare system. Since the start of the war, dozens of doctors have come to Israel to assist in the medical effort, driven by a sense of belonging and solidarity. We want these doctors to stay with us here in Israel, and in order to do that, we are taking the necessary action to make this happen."
"The Israeli healthcare system suffers from a significant personnel shortage, especially in the periphery region, and so the Health Ministry of Health is investing substantial resources to rectify the situation," said Health Minister Uriel Buso: "We are promoting programs in collaboration with various government ministries, Nefesh B'Nefesh, and other entities in order to help Olim (immigrant) doctors integrate quickly into the healthcare system by simplifying bureaucracy and expediting the overall process.
I welcome this initiative, which will reinforce the system with high-quality, value-driven and Zionist professionals who seek to bind their fate with that of the State of Israel. This is the realization of the Zionist vision and an important step in reducing the disparities between the periphery and the central region of the country, which I see as a noble goal."
“After a historic event in Paris, we are thrilled to bring MedEx to the vibrant Jewish community in Argentina,” said Tony Gelbart, Co-Founder and Chairman of Nefesh B’Nefesh. “We have been warmly received by a community deeply committed to Zionism and eager to contribute to the Israeli healthcare system. There is great potential in South America, and Argentina is just the first of many destinations we plan to visit with our partners at the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, Ministry of Health, and the Jewish Agency.”
Jewish Agency CEO & Director General Amira Ahronovitz added: "As part of our ongoing efforts to support Aliyah and integration into Israeli society, we at The Jewish Agency are excited to partner with MedEx Argentina. Through the event, we are bringing doctors in the Jewish community new opportunities to make Aliyah. When doctors make Aliyah, the State of Israel benefits from their strengthening of the health system and our overall national resilience."