Medical coexistence: As Israel faces a physician crisis, Arab Israeli doctors fill the gap

Israel's medical landscape faces an impending crisis due to an aging workforce nearing retirement age. This situation is exacerbated by the shortage of medical school spots, leading 58% of practicing doctors to have obtained their initial medical degrees abroad. Israel leads the OECD in having foreign-trained doctors, with Arab Israeli doctors comprising 25% of the entire medical workforce, including 27% of nurses and dentists. This participation is crucial to sustaining the country's healthcare system.

Mustafa Sarhan, a 58-year-old family physician born and raised in Israel, reflects on the challenges of entering the medical field. He initially studied medicine in Bulgaria, where he could not secure funding from Israeli institutions. Upon returning to Israel, he faced obstacles such as the Israeli Medical Licensing Examination (IMLE) and secured a position at Jerusalem's Hadassah-University Medical Center.

Sarhan's career includes roles as a family physician, diabetologist, and administrative physician, contributing significantly to Israel's renowned health system.

In comparison to other countries, Israel's health system stands out as one of the world's best, providing universal coverage to every citizen. The country's community health service is a global model, often studied by other nations seeking to emulate Israel's success. Sarhan notes the coexistence between Arab and Jewish doctors within Israel's medical community, emphasizing that there is no negativity directed towards Arab Israeli doctors.

In fact, Sarhan's four children, all of whom have chosen medicine as their career, further validate the positive impact of Arab Israeli participation in the healthcare field.