New government program to help immigrant doctors find work more quickly

A new government program aims to integrate immigrant doctors into Israel’s healthcare system quickly, the Immigration and Absorption Ministry says.

“The ‘Path to Medicine’ program combines professional training with an important absorption process for immigrant doctors,” Aliyah and Absorption Minister Ofir Sofer says, speeding up a licensing process that many new arrivals find frustratingly slow while easing professional and social integration.

The eight-month program includes preparation for the government licensing exam, lessons in clinical Hebrew, and training in patient communication, medical documentation, and hospital procedures, the ministry says. Participants will also take part in hospital tours, lectures, mentorship programs and exposure to various medical specialties.

New immigrants are invaluable additions to Israel’s medical sector, which suffers from continued workforce shortages, the Immigration and Absorption Ministry says. Doctors who choose to live and work in Israel’s Negev and Galilee regions, where the need for doctors is highest, are eligible for large grants.

Over the past two years, more than 1,000 immigrant doctors have joined Israel’s healthcare system, with hundreds more expected this year, the ministry notes.