What Should Foreigners Know About Cardiology in Israel?
TL;DR: Cardiology in Israel, especially at the Ichilov Hospital, is transforming medicine with innovative procedures and life-saving drugs. While insurance can cover the medical costs you incur, the country offers premium-quality healthcare at affordable rates, making medical treatments more accessible, even for those without coverage.
Over the years, there has been a shift in the way people receive healthcare. Patients are exploring treatments outside of their own countries, with Israel slowly becoming one of the top medical tourist destinations in the world.
In this article, we will explore why foreigners are flocking to Israeli hospitals. Keep reading until the end, as we will go over how you can access and receive healthcare in Israel. Let’s get started!
Top Reasons Why Israel Is Leading in Medical Tourism
According to a 2023 US News & World Report, Israel snagged the 19th position in the most well-developed public health system rankings, making it one of the top medical tourist destinations in the world.
Here are a few reasons why foreigners choose doctors specializing in cardiology in Israel:
Israeli Hospitals Have Access to the Latest Cardiac and Vascular Diagnostic Procedures
There are many innovative and non-invasive procedures that the local hospitals use for diagnostic purposes, and these include the following:
- Electrocardiography (ECG): Electrocardiography helps diagnose myocardial infarction, rhythm abnormalities, myocardial ischemia, and many more heart-related problems by producing a record of the heart’s electrical activity.
- ECG monitoring: Israeli hospitals use an implantable pacemaker that’s slightly larger than a pack of cigarettes for continuous ECG monitoring. This is an advanced method that is capable of controlling the normal functioning of the heart for up to three years.
- 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring: Israeli hospitals use the latest ambulatory blood pressure monitoring to diagnose the fluctuations in blood pressure and control the effectiveness of treatment.
- Echocardiography: An Israeli hospital may use stress echocardiography to detect coronary artery disease. It’s often carried out when the patient is exercising, helping determine areas in the heart with the poorest blood supply.
- Myocardial scintigraphy: Doctors specializing in cardiology in Israel have access to state-of-the-art medical equipment that allows them to conduct a comparative analysis of radioisotope concentrations. This lets them locate the ischemic foci in the myocardium.
- Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects: While most hospitals in the world perform an atrial septal defect closure on an open heart, medical care in Israel involves closing these defects with a synthetic umbrella-shaped material. It’s often inserted through a special catheter, and the patient is typically discharged within three hours.
- Coronary angiography: To detect obstruction in the coronary arteries of the heart, doctors often recommend coronary angiography, which uses a special dye and X-rays to determine blood flow. Although this is common across the world, the healthcare professionals offering medical care in Israel have extensive experience, helping bring down the complication rate close to zero.
- MSCT coronary angiography: An Israeli hospital may use MSCT coronary angiography, which is the most advanced way to assess all cardiovascular parameters. It minimizes radiation exposure and addresses some patients’ intolerance to contrast materials.
Doctors Specializing in Cardiology in Israel Have Access to Life-saving Drugs and Treatment
While medical centers in Israel use drugs that are typically approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, they also consider medications studied by the European Medicines Agency. This ensures access to a wide range of life-saving drugs that may not be available in the United States or other countries.
Another reason foreigners prefer receiving medical care in Israel is the healthy budget allocated by the government for researching innovative procedures and medications.
For example, a team of researchers developed a revolutionary treatment against a certain type of blood cancer with a 90% success rate in 2023.
Israel Has Some of the Top Medical Schools in the World
Israeli medical schools have strict guidelines that the students must adhere to. Due to rigorous training requirements, fewer individuals graduate, setting the highest standards of medical care.
Although the government has recently allowed its students to receive training abroad (primarily in the United States), strict requirements remain, ensuring quality medical treatment for everyone in the country.
The Cost of Medical Care Is Much Cheaper than in the United States
The United States and its overly burdened healthcare system are riddled with complexities, making medical care expensive and inaccessible for those without insurance. Fortunately, they can seek treatment in Israel.
Medical care at an Israeli hospital is not only of the highest quality but also affordable. Even if you don’t have insurance, treatment costs are lower than in the United States.
How to Access and Receive Healthcare in Israel
Whether you’re an Israeli resident or a foreigner, here’s what you need to know to help you navigate the healthcare system in Israel:
Join the Kupat Cholim Care
To receive medical treatment in Israel, a patient must register with Kupat Cholim Care, which is comprised of several public healthcare providers.
Students and expats with valid visas can join this system when they arrive at the Ben Gurion International Airport. Simply choose a plan and clinic of your choice to get started.
Visit a Private Hospital
For most foreigners, receiving medical treatment through a Kupat Cholim clinic can be challenging since they’re not covered by public insurance programs. Fortunately, there are many non-public healthcare centers in the country that you can visit.
Ichilov Hospital, for example, offers private and professional medical services at competitive prices. It takes pride in providing Western-standard care with a personalized approach.
Do Foreigners Need Insurance for Medical Treatment in Israel?
Whether or not you need insurance for treatment in Israel depends on your residency status.
Short-term Visitor
If you’re visiting the country for a short time, there are many different types of coverage that you can purchase to cover your medical costs in case of an adverse event.
Expat
Expats who are planning to stay in Israel for longer may need to obtain international health insurance. Depending on the type of policy, it may even provide coverage for repatriation costs.
Medical Tourist
Suppose you’re not a resident or an expat and are simply looking to travel to Israel for medical treatment. In that case, you can work with one of the many reputable private hospitals, such as Ichilov, as they offer innovative and life-saving procedures at affordable rates.
Final Thoughts on Cardiology in Israel
Whether you need bypass surgery or the ablation of arrhythmogenic foci, Israel has become a top destination for medical tourism. It continues to set the standard for international excellence, with hospitals pioneering transformative healthcare and biomedical innovation.