Wikipedia

Health in Israel

Health in Israel is advanced and efficient, compared to other developed counties, where Israel spends a relatively low proportion of their gross domestic product on health, which is 7.3%, compared to 9.3% in the OECD and 18% in the US. With the passing of the 1995 National Healthcare Law, there is mandated universal healthcare, for 100% of the population, funded by a health tax which is a fixed percentage of income. [1][2] This health care 'basket' includes a list of services mandated by the Ministry of health. Individuals can purchase coverage for additional services for an extra charge.[3] Despite the cost savings in healthcare, the health status in Israel is satisfactory compared to other countries. Infant mortality is low, at 2.14 per 1000 live births compared to above 5 in US. With life expectancy at 81.7 years compared with 76.3 years in the Europe.[1][4]

Life expectancy development in Israel

The top 3 causes of death in Israel (2022) include[5]:

  1. Cancer: 122 deaths pr 100,000 population
  2. Heart disease: 68 deaths per 100,000 population
  3. Covid 19: 46 deaths per 100,000 population*

*Vaccination rate for COVID of 81% similar to the US

Cancer

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In 2003, Israel had the second highest rate of skin cancer in the world,[6] However, this has decreased substantially since then due to public health campaigns recommending avoiding the hottest time of day, discouraging sun-bathing and using sun protection such as greater clothing coverage and sunscreen.[7] According to the Israel Cancer Association, the incidence is significantly higher among Israeli Jews than among Arabs and higher among "Israeli natives" than among "individuals of Oriental/Middle Eastern descent".[8]

Hereditary breast, ovarian and melanoma cancer rates are particularly acute in Ashkenazi Jewish populations in Israel[9] (31.8% of Israeli Jews), in-part due to a higher-prevalence of BRCA and BRCA2 mutations (1 in 40 vs 1 in 400 in most populations worldwide) in Ashkenazi Jewish populations,[10] which increase the likelihood of hereditary cancers.

Overweight and obesity

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In 2013–2015, adult overweight & obesity rates in Israel were 36.7% and 17.8% respectively.[11] Socioeconomic status was one factor that impacted overweight and obesity percentages, particularly for women. Women in lower classes were four times as likely to be overweight or obese as women in upper classes. Only 20.2% of the entire population reported that they exercised for twenty minutes or more three times a week.[12]

The frequency of exercise among the Jewish Israeli population was twice as high as that for the Arab population. Men and women of Arab descent are more likely to be of an unhealthy weight than Jewish men and women.[12] Obesity is also far more common among Haredi Jews than secular Jews.[13]

Smoking

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Smoking prevalence among males remained relatively constant at 30% in the years 1994–2004.[14] Among females, the prevalence declined slightly from 25% in 1998 to 18% in 2003.[14] For youth, 14% smoked at least once per week in a 2001 publication.[15]

In 2005, Israeli youths have begun to use bidis and hookah, as alternative methods of tobacco use.[14] In 1990, smoking was the cause of about 1,800 male deaths in Israel which was around 12% of all male deaths.[16] Smoking has not been found to be a significant cause of death among Israeli women.[16] The average number of cigarettes smoked per Israeli per year stands at 2162 (6).[14]

There are several anti-tobacco use legislations in effect. For instance, advertising is prohibited in youth publications and is forbidden on television and radio.[16] In addition to substantial increases in tobacco taxation, although comparatively the prices are still among the lowest compared to all of the European countries.[16] Until 2004, there was no minimum age requirement for buying tobacco products in Israel,[17] however, an amendment to the tobacco marketing and advertisement law that became effective in 2004 has limited the sale of tobacco to people above the age of 18.[18]

According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, the smoking rate in the Israeli adult population in 2009 was 20.9%, down from 34% in 2000.[19] A Ministry of Health nationwide survey conducted in 2011 found that 20.6% of the population aged 21 and older were smokers.[20] The highest percentage of smokers was among Arab males, 44% of whom smoked, though this figure is down from 50% in 1996.

In 2014, 19.8% of adult Israelis smoked, 26.3% in the Arab population and 18.4% in the Jewish population. 35% of non-smoking respondents to the World Health Survey reported that they had been exposed to passive smoking. Smoking is responsible for about 8,000 deaths in Israel every year, of which about 700 among passive smokers. The cost of the damage caused by smoking to the health system is estimated at NIS 1.7 billion (about $440 million) a year. The annual loss of working capacity and paid sick days in the wider economy is estimated at NIS 1.9 billion ($490 million). About NIS 8.2 billion ($2.12 billion) is spent on tobacco products each year. 40 tons of tobacco worth some NIS 24 million ($6.2 million) and about 1.3 million cigarette packs were intercepted at the border crossing between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in 2014.[21]

Peanut Allergy

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In early 2000 it was noted that children in Israel have a low prevalence of peanut allergy. This led to a study, in Israel and the United Kingdom, where early exposure to products containing peanuts, in infancy, led to a lower risk of peanut allergy.[22] A similar study was conducted in the US in 2015 (the LEAP study) with similar results.[23] With these findings, the American Academy of Pediatrics changed the guidelines for exposure of infants to peanut-containing products.[24]

Climate change

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This section is an excerpt from Climate change in Israel § Health.[edit]

Climate change directly affects vulnerable populations such as women, children, the elderly, and the chronically ill.[25] Increasing heat waves, decreasing rainfall, worsening air quality, lack of access to drinking water and food disproportionately affect these populations.[26] Populations who suffer from chronic disorders are more susceptible to health issues related to poor air quality, high temperatures, and water-borne illnesses.[25] Extreme heat caused by climate change can also be dangerous for pregnant women and affect child development in the womb.[25] Migrants, refugees, Palestinians, and Bedouins who are not connected to the electricity grid may not be able to afford air conditioners or have access to healthcare facilities.[25][27]

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 Commonwealth Fund (2026). "International Health Care System Profiles: Israel". Commonwealth Fund. doi:10.26099/4jc8-yf08.
  2. ↑ OECD (2025-11-13). Health at a Glance 2025: OECD Indicators. OECD Publishing. doi:10.1787/8f9e3f98-en. ISBN 978-92-64-95484-7.
  3. ↑ Rosen, Bruce; Waitzberg, Ruth; Merkur, Sherry (2015). "Israel: Health System Review". Health Systems in Transition. 17 (6): 1–212. ISSN 1817-6127. PMID 27050102.
  4. ↑ "World Health Organization Data: Israel".
  5. ↑ "Causes of Death in Israel, 2020-2022," Central Bureau of Statistics, April 17, 2024" (PDF).
  6. ↑ Britnell, Mark (2015). In Search of the Perfect Health System. London: Palgrave. p. 69. ISBN 978-1-137-49661-4.
  7. ↑ Foundation, Richard David Kann Melanoma (2019-07-19). "Why Israel's skin cancer rates are dropping | RDK Melanoma Foundation". melanomafoundation.com. Retrieved 2022-04-18.[permanent dead link]
  8. ↑ Israel Cancer Association 30/07/2012. Summary and Highlights from Press Conference on Skin-related Subjects.
  9. ↑ "The 3 cancers Jews need to worry about most - and how to reduce the risks". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 2017-04-26. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  10. ↑ "Jewish Women and BRCA Gene Mutations | Bring Your Brave | CDC". www.cdc.gov. 2021-09-27. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  11. ↑ "Israel National Health Interview Survey INHIS-3 2013-2015" (PDF) (in Hebrew). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-02-16.
  12. 1 2 Kaluski, D. Nitzan; Berry, E. M. (2005). "Prevalence of Obesity in Israel". Obesity Reviews. 6 (2): 115–116. doi:10.1111/j.1467-789X.2005.00168.x. PMID 15836461. S2CID 42843388.
  13. ↑ Galahar, Ari (2011-01-09). "'Haredi sector suffers from obesity'". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Baron-Epel O. Haviv-Messika A. Tamir D. Nitzan-Kaluski D. Green M. Multiethnic differences in smoking in Israel: pooled analysis from three national surveys. European Journal of Public Health. 14(4):384-9, 2004 Dec.
  15. ↑ Meijer B. Branski D. Kerem E. Ethnic differences in cigarette smoking among adolescents: a comparison of Jews and Arabs in Jerusalem. Israel Medical Association Journal: Imaj. 3(7):504-7, 2001 Jul.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Tobacco or Health: A Global Status Report, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), accessed July 13, 2005 (site now down)
  17. ↑ WHO European Country Profiles on Tobacco Control 2003 Archived 2004-06-27 at the Wayback Machine, World Health Organization, accessed November 24, 2005
  18. ↑ Archived 2014-05-31 at the Wayback Machine Israeli Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  19. ↑ "Israeli smoking rate for 2009 down to 20.9%". 20 July 2010.
  20. ↑ "A Record Number of Non-Smokers". Walla (in Hebrew). 31 May 2012. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  21. ↑ "8,000 Israelis die of smoking every year". Ynet News. 31 May 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  22. ↑ Du Toit, George; Katz, Yitzhak; Sasieni, Peter; Mesher, David; Maleki, Soheila J.; Fisher, Helen R.; Fox, Adam T.; Turcanu, Victor; Amir, Tal; Zadik-Mnuhin, Galia; Cohen, Adi; Livne, Irit; Lack, Gideon (November 2008). "Early consumption of peanuts in infancy is associated with a low prevalence of peanut allergy". Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 122 (5): 984–991. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2008.08.039. PMID 19000582.
  23. ↑ Du Toit, George; Roberts, Graham; Sayre, Peter H.; Bahnson, Henry T.; Radulovic, Suzana; Santos, Alexandra F.; Brough, Helen A.; Phippard, Deborah; Basting, Monica; Feeney, Mary; Turcanu, Victor; Sever, Michelle L.; Gomez Lorenzo, Margarita; Plaut, Marshall; Lack, Gideon (2015-02-26). "Randomized Trial of Peanut Consumption in Infants at Risk for Peanut Allergy". New England Journal of Medicine. 372 (9): 803–813. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1414850. ISSN 0028-4793. PMC 4416404. PMID 25705822.
  24. ↑ Chang, Angela; Cabana, Michael D.; LaFlam, Taylor N.; Patel, Saharsh; Okumura, Megumi (June 2021). "Early Peanut Introduction and Testing: A Framework for General Pediatrician Beliefs and Practices". Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology. 34 (2): 53–59. doi:10.1089/ped.2020.1190. ISSN 2151-3228. PMC 8329693. PMID 34143689.
  25. 1 2 3 4 Linares, Cristina; Díaz, Julio; Negev, Maya; Martínez, Gerardo Sánchez; Debono, Roberto; Paz, Shlomit (2020-03-01). "Impacts of climate change on the public health of the Mediterranean Basin population - Current situation, projections, preparedness and adaptation". Environmental Research. 182 109107. Bibcode:2020ER....18209107L. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2019.109107. ISSN 0013-9351. PMID 32069750. S2CID 211192333.
  26. ↑ Green, Manfred S.; Pri-or, Noemie Groag; Capeluto, Guedi; Epstein, Yoram; Paz, Shlomit (2013-06-27). "Climate change and health in Israel: adaptation policies for extreme weather events". Israel Journal of Health Policy Research. 2 (1): 23. doi:10.1186/2045-4015-2-23. ISSN 2045-4015. PMC 3707789. PMID 23805950.
  27. ↑ Berman, Tamar; Goldsmith, Rebecca; Levine, Hagai; Grotto, Itamar (March 2017). "Human biomonitoring in Israel: Recent results and lessons learned". International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. 220 (2): 6–12. Bibcode:2017IJHEH.220....6B. doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2016.09.008. ISSN 1438-4639. PMID 27663636.
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