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NEWS
Campaign to Encourage North American and British Doctors to Make Aliya
by Yated Ne'eman Staff
In response to predictions of a shortfall of doctors Israel has launched a campaign to encourage Jewish doctors from North America and Britain to come on aliya. A package of special grants and benefits worth $60,000, in addition to the standard aliya benefits, will be given to physicians on condition they are less than 40 years old and commit to work in Israel at least nine months a year. Hospitals and clinics that hire them will also receive financial assistance from the state.
The doctors will be provided an accelerated licensing track that should eliminate most of the Israeli bureaucracy and ensure them a quick integration into the healthcare system. The campaign is being organized by the Health Ministry, the Immigrant Absorption Ministry, the Morasha Foundation and Nefesh Benefesh to promote aliya from Western countries.
A report written last summer for the Council of Higher Education's Budget and Planning Committee points to an increasing number of doctors leaving Israel. In light of this trend and relying on forecasts of population growth, the current ratio of 3.4 doctors per 1,000 people could go down to 2.5 per 1,000 by the year 2025.
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