More than 1 million Israelis waited over a month to see medical specialist, says CBS

Reporter at The Times of Israel

The Central Bureau of Statistics says that more one million Israelis who required a medical specialist in 2025 were forced to wait more than a month for an appointment.

Among those seeking specialist care, 24 percent -— about 800,000 people -— waited between one and three months, while nearly 10%, exceeding 300,000 Israelis, languished on waitlists for more than three months, according to Ynet.

Long delays were particularly acute in specific specialties. Sixty-seven percent of patients seeking a gastroenterologist waited over two weeks, alongside 62% for internal medicine specialists, and 60% each for neurologists and urologists.

The survey also found that 1.2 million Israelis aged 20 and over, or 19 percent of the adult population, turned to private medical care for their health needs.

The survey also found that some 1.5 million citizens, representing a quarter of the population, believe the quality of care in public hospitals is poor.

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