The healthcare system in Israel is undoubtedly among the best in the world. The medical teams—doctors, nurses, secretaries, paramedics, and other medical support staff—work around the clock with endless dedication.
Many words have been written about the life of a medical intern in Israel. The difficulty, lack of sleep, and bloodshot eyes from nights of long shifts; at times 9-10 shifts per month.
Due to the latter, repercussions arise such as—doctors in Israel suffer from smoking and obesity at higher rates compared to the general population. Their family lives are impacted, leading to very high rates of separations and divorces. In extreme cases, doctors suffer from poor health, illness, and even a high suicide rate compared to the general population.
So why do they work us so hard? Do the healthcare system leaders not understand the burnout and accompanying damages? The answer is simply because they can.
A sense of mission primarily drives doctors, and medical work is surrounded by an aura of saving lives, reducing suffering and pain, healing to the best of their ability, and performing good deeds daily. From this sense of mission, the exhausting work becomes routine.
Doctors hardly complain because they have no one to complain to. Interns bear the burden of the public healthcare system with the clear knowledge that one day they will delegate responsibilities and pass the reins on to the next interns. Senior doctors have more time to engage with their families and may, over time, live comfortable lives with a substantial income, watching with almost enjoyment and satisfaction as the fresh interns take on their noble mission.
But there are consequences for this. The State of Israel is not an isolated and disconnected entity from the world. The shortage of doctors exists and is worsening in all developed countries. This fact spawns tempting job offers for medical school graduates, mainly from international faculties in Europe, with working conditions that are far better than those in Israel.
In Europe, the starting monthly salary is about 5,000 euros, which can easily rise to about 10,000 euros if the intern agrees to work in peripheral areas.
And what about the shifts? In Scandinavian countries, for example, they have long understood that doctors are workers, not slaves! The shift duration is only about 9 hours! compared to 26 hours in Israel. The number of shifts is 3-4 a month compared to 7-10 a month. High salary with better working conditions and very good socio-economic benefits.
So what are the downsides? The working conditions in most countries in Europe have only advantages compared to the ones in Israel. The difficulty for medical students lies in the distance from their family and friends in Israel, and the Zionistic feeling experienced by some doctors who genuinely wish to work as doctors in the State of Israel.
To what extent can the State of Israel rely on the Zionism of its doctors and future doctors?
In my opinion, this is a shaky pillar. The State of Israel must conduct long-term planning for medical personnel. Medical faculties should be established in the peripheral regions of Israel, with tuition funded by state loans. The loans would turn into grants if the doctors stayed to work in the periphery in needed specializations.
Dr. Moshe cohen This way, the state would attract doctors to the periphery and fill the gaps in medical fields where the average age is nearing retirement. Otherwise, we will all regret it. Without enough doctors, the quality of life for Israeli citizens, and thus life expectancy, will dramatically decrease, and we will all lose our best sons and daughters, the doctors of the future, who genuinely wish to feel wanted and deserving in their country.
Dr. Moshe Cohen, a cardiologist, the CEO of ‘Medical Doctor’- a premedical school for medical studies in Europe, and the entrepreneur of Eilat medical school.