Gaza Herald – A recent study conducted by Tel Aviv University indicates that at least 1,370 physicians emigrated from Israel between 2023 and 2025. The findings highlight a continuing exodus of specialized medical personnel amid mounting pressure on the national health system.
Haaretz reported the results, defining emigrants as those residing abroad for more than 270 days in their first year and failing to return for over three consecutive months thereafter. Professor Itai Atar, one of the study’s authors, noted that economists had warned since 2023 about accelerating brain drain due to political and security disturbances.
Atar explained that these concerns emerged when the government pushed for judicial reforms and intensified following the October 7 attacks and the subsequent war. Researchers focused particularly on doctors over 45, who have completed specialist training and mentor younger colleagues. One in five departing physicians fell into this category, a trend deemed alarming.
The loss is evident across several specialties. Sixteen percent of ophthalmologists, dermatologists, and ENT specialists left, representing 6.2 percent of the total in those fields. Additionally, 188 surgeons departed, accounting for approximately 6 percent of all surgeons in the country.
Tel Aviv recorded the highest departure rates, with 5.4 percent of its doctors leaving according to the study. This outflow coincides with an aging workforce; a Finance Ministry report stated that 24 percent of specialists in public hospitals are nearing retirement age, while another 25 percent have already passed it but continue working due to staff shortages.
Atar emphasized that the primary concern is not just the current situation but the trajectory, warning of potential worsening after the elections scheduled for October 27. This migration parallels broader demographic shifts, with another Tel Aviv University study finding that 268,509 Israelis left for at least three months between 2023 and 2025.
Kan described this figure as record-breaking. Multiple reports link the rise in departures to the war, soaring living costs, and the political crisis surrounding efforts to limit judicial powers. A Kantar poll for Kan showed one in five Israelis considered moving abroad in the past two years, with 12 percent citing upcoming election results as a factor in their decision to stay or leave.
This report was produced in the Gaza Herald newsroom.
