Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
The Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee, chaired by Shira Talmi-Babai, approved a plan on Tuesday for the construction of a hospital in the city of Beit Shemesh. The hospital will be built on a 180-dunam (44-acre) site in the southern part of the city and is expected to serve residents of Beit Shemesh and the surrounding area. The project is part of a broader national plan to expand health care infrastructure including eight new hospitals by 2050.
The plan, submitted by the Beit Shemesh Municipality, includes approximately 770 beds to accommodate a population of 500,000 in the city and the Mateh Yehuda region. It envisions five buildings housing inpatient departments, an emergency hospital, medical services, clinics, specialized institutes, laboratories, research and medical training facilities, a hotel for patient families and a helipad.
"In addition to establishing another public hospital in Israel, which is a significant development for residents of the city and the region, this project will accelerate Beit Shemesh's economic growth and strengthen its status as it moves toward a target population of 500,000," said Shira Talmi-Babai, chair of the Jerusalem District Planning Committee.
Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: Google Play: https://bit.ly/4eJ37pE | Apple App Store: https://bit.ly/3ZL7iNv
Jerusalem District Planner at the Planning Administration, architect Dan Keinan, added, "This plan is a key part of a national planning vision, advancing the public health care system in Israel and the district. It is expected to create a high-quality hub for employment, local commerce and medical research, contributing to Beit Shemesh’s development into a fully-fledged city and expanding services for its residents." The plan was designed by Kolker Kolker Epstein Architects.
The future of Israel’s health care network in 2050
As previously reported by Ynet, the National Planning and Building Council has submitted for government approval the National Master Plan for Healthcare Institutions (TAMA 20/1). This plan, developed by the Planning Administration and the Health Ministry, outlines the distribution of hospitals and medical facilities through 2050, ensuring land is allocated for future hospitals to meet the growing needs of the population, including geriatric care.
Israel’s population is expected to reach approximately 15 million by 2050, with a significant increase in elderly residents due to rising life expectancy. The allocation of land for medical facilities is based on projected demand for healthcare services, determined by population size, geographic distribution, and age demographics.
The plan includes the construction of eight new hospitals in Carmiel, Hod Hasharon, Harish, Tzomet Galam, Netanya, Modi’in, Beersheba and Kiryat Gat (as part of an expansion of Ichilov Hospital). It also calls for a significant expansion of existing hospitals.
Additionally, the plan reserves land for about 20 new geriatric hospitals — four times the current number— to be built in locations such as Dimona, Netivot and Kafr Qara, addressing the projected increase in Israel’s elderly population, which is expected to reach 1.66 million by 2035.
The plan also includes three rehabilitation hospitals in Katzrin, Carmiel and Beersheba (as part of the Peres Center), as well as 10 new emergency medical centers in underserved areas, including Katzrin, Kiryat Shmona, and Mitzpe Ramon, where access to urgent care is currently limited.