The Israeli healthcare system is known worldwide. However, what do people really know? The common perception is that Israel boasts a high standard of medical care, and if one is diagnosed with cancer, the advice is to seek treatment in Germany or Israel. That’s probably all that most people have heard. But what is the reality? What is the truth behind these scarce pieces of information and what are just myths? Let’s try to understand.
All Israeli citizens are members of some health insurance fund (medical insurance) and seek medical help from doctors in outpatient clinics or hospitals affiliated with their health insurance fund. Treatment is provided for free, or the health insurance fund covers certain procedures and tests included in the basic coverage. There are options for enhanced personal insurance plans that cover expensive surgeries and treatments. We will stop here because this article is dedicated to the questions of treatment for non-Israeli citizens who need medical assistance that cannot be provided in their country of residence.
So, if you are seriously ill and not a citizen of Israel, here is what your path will look like.
To come to Israel for treatment, you do not need a visa or upfront payment. You can stay in the country for up to 90 days. However, to make the most of your time, it is advisable to prepare for your visit in advance.
First and foremost, you need to explore the list of Israeli clinics on various internet resources. Unlike other countries, Israel does not have clinics specializing in specific diseases. All clinics are multi-disciplinary. You can gather information about each healthcare facility, read reviews, and choose a hospital and even a specific doctor. Here is a list of several state clinics in Israel that are part of the Israeli Association of Hospitals:
- Assuta Clinic (located in several cities),
- Barzilai Hospital (Ashkelon),
- Bnei Zion Hospital (Haifa),
- Wolfson Medical Center (Holon),
- Ichilov Clinic (Sourasky),
- Sheba Medical Center (Ramat Gan),
- Rambam Clinic (Rosh Ha’ayin),
- Schneider Children’s Hospital (Petah Tikva),
- Soroka Medical Center (Be’er Sheva),
- Hadassah Clinic (Jerusalem).
This is not a complete list of clinics. There are also private hospitals where you can seek treatment for your problems. There is the private hospital Assuta, as well as smaller private clinics. Highly qualified doctors also work there. You can take action independently or through the Association of Israeli Clinics.
The Association of Clinics provides certain guarantees.
The Association of Clinics in Israel commits to:
- Find treatment for the patient without intermediaries so that they can interact directly with the medical institution, without unnecessary expenses.
- Ensure an accurate match between the quality of treatment in Israel and its cost.
- Develop an optimal treatment program in leading clinics in Israel, without unnecessary procedures and optional tests.
- Minimize waiting times for visits to specialists or surgeries when seeking treatment in Israeli clinics.
- Provide clear treatment recommendations in Israel, strictly based on the patient’s interests.
Advantages of approaching the Association:
- Preliminary objective and qualified consultation regarding the choice of an Israeli clinic.
- Free medical audit by a specialized specialist or an expert group of doctors.
- Accurate diagnosis and development of an optimal treatment program based on the capabilities of the best clinics in Israel.
- Direct and immediate interaction with clinics in Israel and medical centers.
- Well-organized process of treatment in Israeli clinics, including logistical matters such as flight booking, hotel reservations, airport pickup, and country tours (according to the patient’s preferences).
- Ongoing communication with the treating doctor, even after the patient has left the Israeli clinic.
If you already have a treatment program and a cost proposal, you can contact our specialists for an objective assessment based on the analysis of your documents.
Contact information for the Association:
Phone: +972747140734
E-mail: info@hospitals-israel.com
E-mail: doctor@hospitals-israel.com
If you choose to pursue an individual path, after selecting a clinic (we recommend contacting several), you need to send the clinic a complete package of your documents: examinations, analyses, doctors’ reports, etc. The clinic will inform you if additional examinations and analyses are required. We want to inform you upfront that if, after reviewing your medical history, the doctors determine that they cannot help you, they will let you know immediately. No one here will give you false hope for their own benefit. For Israeli medical professionals, reputation is more valuable than financial rewards. If there is any chance of recovery, they will advise you to come.
Most often, people turn to Israeli doctors for oncological diseases. Cancer treatment is one of the priority areas of Israeli medicine. Here are a few examples to provide a clearer picture.
In Israel, there is extensive use of robotic surgery. Israeli doctors are pioneers in using medical robots for surgical procedures. This approach minimizes the risks associated with operations.
Robotic surgeries in Israel, which are significantly less expensive than in other developed countries, are performed using state-of-the-art surgical equipment. The latest generation da Vinci robots provide surgeons with practically limitless possibilities: four robotic arms act with the highest precision, and the magnified 3D view of the surgical field, which can be viewed from all angles, enables doctors to work with even the smallest structures in the body, such as blood vessels and nerves.
All robotic surgeries are tailored to the individual needs of each patient and are performed by highly qualified teams of surgeons, nurses, and technicians specializing in the use of the da Vinci robotic system. The following surgeries are performed using this system:
- Hysterectomy for both benign and malignant uterine tumors
- Prostatectomy for prostate cancer and urinary tract obstruction
- Kidney surgery, including partial and complete nephrectomy (removal of the kidney) and nephroureterectomy (removal of the kidney and ureter)
- Oncourological surgeries, including cystectomy (complete removal of the bladder) with subsequent reconstruction, as well as lymph node removal for advanced testicular and penile cancer
- Lung surgery
- Cardiovascular surgery, including robotic mitral valve correction
- Colorectal surgery and many other procedures
For example, skin tumors are removed using the Mohs method.
Micrographic surgical removal of skin tumors using this method is a specialized and highly effective technique for treating malignant neoplasms. Unlike traditional methods of excising skin tumors, the Mohs method involves immediate and complete histological evaluation of the removed skin fragments, achieving a very high effectiveness of the surgical intervention and cure.
Each patient who comes for treatment to an Israeli clinic receives an individual treatment plan. The doctor thoroughly acquaints the patient with the treatment plan. If surgery is needed, the patient is also provided with detailed information on how the operation will proceed, what will be done, and what the rehabilitation process will be like.
Here are some reviews from patients who underwent treatment in Israeli clinics.
Patient: Mikhail, Russia
Doctor: Prof. Moshe Inbar
Review date: 17.10.2016
I came to Israel to confirm the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. The diagnostics gave a positive result. I quickly underwent surgery and was prescribed a course of chemotherapy. But the methods suggested were different from those at home. Israeli treatment is characterized by a comprehensive approach. After the treatment, the examination showed no cancer cells. I plan to come for diagnostics to monitor the disease. I hope for a good result for me.
Patient: Anastasia, Moscow region
Doctor: Moshe Inbar
Review date: 1.11.2016
I came to Israel for breast cancer treatment. I was fortunate to be treated by Prof. Inbar. Chemotherapy and surgery received in Israel gave me hope for a complete recovery. The psychological aspect was also important: the doctor’s optimism rubbed off on me. I was impressed not only by Prof. Inbar’s professional qualities but also by his humanity. Despite being internationally renowned, the professor turned out to be down-to-earth, simple, and kind-hearted.
Patient: Alexander, Moscow region
Doctor: Odelia Gur
Review date: 12.05.2014
I came to Israel for lymphoma treatment. I was lucky to have Dr. O. Gur as my treating physician, who is among the most experienced Israeli oncologists. Dr. Gur not only prescribed the appropriate treatment but also correctly guided my recovery after surgery: even after leaving the intensive care unit, she “pushed” me to get up and walk. Thanks to this, both the treatment and recovery were successful. I have been in remission for 2 years now and feel fine.
If you have sent all your documents in advance and are invited for treatment, you can pre-select accommodation for yourself and your companions, arrange for a permanent translator if the doctor or staff do not speak your language. However, in Israel, almost everyone speaks three languages: Hebrew, English, and either Russian or Arabic. But if none of these options suits you, you can arrange for translation services in advance.
We ask you to clarify all these questions in advance, before arrival, in order to be prepared for any situation. Regarding payment, no one can tell you an exact amount in advance, as the cost of treatment depends on numerous factors: your condition and its stage, additional tests that may be required, the level of the doctor, the complexity of the treatment process, the recovery period, the level of the hospital you will be admitted to, and the amount of medication you will need.
Only when you submit an application and all documents, after reviewing all this, they will inform you of the cost of your treatment. It will be expensive. We recommend sending applications to several clinics; all of them will respond and provide the cost of treatment.
You can compare prices from different clinics here and in your country, and make your choice.
Let’s give you an example of the diagnostic process and treatment protocol for one of the most common types of cancer – breast cancer.
On the official website of the Top Ichilov Clinic, the following information is provided regarding the treatment of this type of cancer:
PERSONALIZED TREATMENT PROTOCOLS
«In Israel, the treatment protocol for breast cancer will be tailored to the characteristics of your tumor. Depending on the type of tumor, you may be prescribed:
1. Chemotherapy with drugs such as paclitaxel, doxorubicin, etc.
2. Hormonal therapy (tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors).
3. Biological therapy (e.g., Herceptin).
Personalized protocols increase the effectiveness of treatment and, in many cases, allow avoiding unnecessary side effects. Israeli scientists have developed the Oncotype DX test, which identifies patients who do not require chemotherapy and can be successfully treated with more gentle methods, such as biological methods. In CIS countries, during surgical treatment of breast cancer, in 95% of cases, axillary lymph nodes are removed along with the breast as a preventive measure. This leads to a severe complication called lymphedema. In Israel, oncologists have been using the technique of sentinel lymph node biopsy recommended by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) for many years. The procedure involves the identification and removal of the sentinel lymph node, which is the first node that cancer cells encounter during metastasis. If this node is clear, the remaining lymph nodes are preserved».
Israeli doctors perform surgeries even at stage 3 of cancer while preserving the breast. These treatment methods allow many women to preserve their lives and health.
One of the most common types of cancer is lung cancer. In Israel, approximately 2,000 patients with this diagnosis are identified each year. The same pattern is observed worldwide. In Israel, the Assuta Clinic is the most commonly sought-after clinic for this diagnosis. This clinic offers more than 10 types of diagnostic tests to detect lung cancer at an early stage. The clinic’s website provides a detailed schedule for the diagnostic process, including the specified prices.
The Assuta Clinic's website also mentions personalized treatment plans: «Israeli specialists consider lung cancer as a group of different diseases that require different treatments. Molecular-genetic studies are used in Israel to determine the treatment strategy for lung cancer. Targeted and immune therapies are used in treatment, which are highly effective and have a low risk of side effects. In Eastern European countries, standard chemotherapy is often prescribed for different types of lung cancer. Israeli pulmonologists have long abandoned the use of conventional X-ray screening for lung cancer due to its low accuracy. In Israel, low-dose computed tomography allows for the detection of most cases of lung cancer at an early stage».
The same Assuta Clinic also specializes in the treatment of liver cancer, which is considered one of the most complex types of this disease due to the complexity of surgical intervention.
«In Israel, minimally invasive methods such as percutaneous ablation and transarterial embolization are used for liver tumors. This treatment is less traumatic and associated with a lower risk of complications than traditional surgery. In Israel, including at the Assuta Clinic, advanced-stage liver cancer is treated using modern innovative methods, including immunotherapy, which is not available in all countries. This significantly increases the survival rate of patients».
The Assuta Hospital's website provides detailed information on innovative methods for treating liver cancer.
«Alongside traditional surgical operations, the latest methods of treatment are used for liver cancer. These methods are less invasive and involve a lower risk of complications compared to conventional surgical procedures».
Chemoembolization with Microspheres
This new promising method of cancer treatment combines the local chemotherapy effect with the mechanical interruption of the tumor's blood supply with minimal toxicity to the patient's body.
Biologically compatible microspheres made of a special absorbable polymer are mixed with an anti-tumor drug solution right before the procedure takes place.
Negatively charged polymer particles bind to positively charged particles of the drug. This allows microspheres to absorb significant doses of chemotherapy drugs. Then, the microspheres are placed in a special syringe with a contrast solution. Under the control of modern X-ray equipment, a microcatheter is guided along the vascular path and precisely positioned in the artery that supplies the tumor. The closer the catheter is placed to the tumor, the greater the effect of the procedure. The microspheres pass through the catheter into the vessel lumen that feeds the tumor. They are carried through the vessel along with the blood until they reach a point where the diameter of the vessel matches the diameter of the microspheres. The vessel becomes blocked, cutting off the blood supply to the tumor. The drug is released and reaches the tumor tissue without entering the bloodstream. Thus, it leads to the destruction of the tumor without harming other organs and tissues.
Radioembolization (Selective Internal Radiation Therapy - SIRT)
This method is used to treat all types of tumors, including primary tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma. The method is similar to chemoembolization, as it also uses spheres, but these spheres contain a radioactive substance - yttrium-90. The average diameter of the microspheres is 25-30 µm. Radioactive pharmaceuticals are delivered directly to the tumor using a catheter. The catheter is inserted through the femoral artery. The procedure takes only a few minutes and is completely safe. It allows for the preservation of organ function and minimizes the risk of complications. Due to its precise targeting of the tumor, the method rarely causes pain.
Radiofrequency Ablation
The procedure involves "burning" the tumor using radiofrequency. The current is delivered through a fine needle that is inserted into the liver tumor through the abdominal wall under the guidance of ultrasound. The procedure lasts about 15 minutes. Ablation is used to treat both primary and metastatic forms of liver cancer..
We also want to share another patient's review who underwent treatment in Israel.
Astrakhan, Russia
Admission date to Assuta:: 10/08/2020
Time spent in the clinic:8 day
Diagnosis:Lung cancer
At work, we have an annual X-ray, and one of the images showed a tumor in my lung. It turned out to be malignant. Russian doctors recommended surgery, but I opted for the option that seemed more reliable - to have the operation in Israel. I have a friend living in Israel, and he gets information about the country's healthcare system firsthand. He recommended the Assuta clinic to me. The tumor was small, and I underwent thoracoscopic surgery - after which only small scars remained between the ribs. The treatment was limited to surgical removal of the tumor: Israeli doctors said that I did not need chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Since then, I periodically come to Assuta for check-ups. The tests show that the disease has been successfully stopped.
We sincerely wish everyone good health! But if anything happens, excellent doctors and the latest technologies are always here for you!
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