Health Ministry drills potential emergency security situations in the north

As the borders between Israel and Syria remain tense, Israel’s health system practices handling potential major security incidents in a drill today in the north.

The drill deals with a variety of different scenarios involving the operation of hospitals, health maintenance organizations’ community clinics, medical evacuations, and the provision of support to chronically ill people in need of immediate assistance.

Led by the Health Ministry, the comprehensive drill also involves other governmental ministries, hospitals, HMOs, local authorities, the IDF’s Home Front Command, and other branches of the national security apparatus.

“We are in a very challenging period that includes treating thousands of the physically and emotionally injured, as well as the rehabilitation of thousands. In parallel to dealing with these challenges that began on October 7, we are preparing for the expansion of the [military] operation in the north and throughout Israel,” says Health Ministry director-general Moshe Bar Siman Tov.

“The security reality in Israel has changed, as have the things the healthcare system must do. Therefore, we are preparing the system as a whole and every part of it in this drill. The change that could happen in the north will affect the hospitals and community in a much broader way than we have experienced thus far,” he says.

According to Health Ministry deputy director-general Sefi Mendelovich, planning for the drill has been underway in recent months, with an aim at challenging existing assumptions, filling gaps, implementing new technologies, and improving coordination and communication to ensure the best possible care in case of emergency.