Reform in Israeli Medical Internship: Training Period to be Shortened
Overview of the Reform
In a significant change to the medical training system, Israel’s Ministry of Health has announced a comprehensive reform to the internship year for medical graduates. Beginning September 2025, the duration of the internship, known colloquially as “the year of slavery,” will be reduced by three months. Graduates will also have the option to request vacation days throughout the year, aligning their rights with those of other workers in Israel.
Changes to Internship Structure
The reform aims to streamline the internship curriculum by eliminating superfluous departments that do not contribute to the training or hospital operations. These changes are the result of extensive collaboration involving the Ministry of Health, hospitals across Israel, deans of medical schools, medical education experts, and current and former interns.
The internship is designed for graduates from both domestic and international medical schools, requiring them to rotate through hospitals nationwide. Until now, these placements were determined by a lottery system, creating challenges for interns such as unwanted placements far from home and delays that left many unemployed for extended periods.
Internship Experience and Challenges
During their 12-month internship, participants were often required to switch departments every month or two. Their responsibilities included assisting with patient admissions, accompanying patients for diagnostics, performing clerical work, blood sampling, and presentations of cases in morning meetings. Many interns described their experience as unproductive, referring to themselves as “black workers” tasked with duties that did not enhance their future medical careers.
Despite being entitled to start month of vacation, interns had to take it consecutively, leading to long stretches of work, including shifts lasting up to 26 hours without breaks.
Key Changes Under the New Reform
- Reduced Duration: The internship period will be shortened from 12 months to 9 months, with adjustments in surgical and pediatric rotations.
- Flexible Leave: The concentrated month of vacation will be abolished, allowing interns to take vacation days as needed throughout their internship.
- Improved Placement Process: The lottery system for internship placements will be refined, with two fixed dates established per year for graduates from international institutions.
- Ongoing Evaluation: Interns will undergo continuous assessment based on structured feedback and electronic questionnaires to foster improvement during their training.
- Elective Month Options: The previously mandatory elective months will become optional, catering to interns who have yet to choose a specialty.
Statements from Officials
Health Minister Oriel Buso emphasized that the new structure represents a delicate balance between reducing bureaucratic hurdles and strengthening professional development. The reform demonstrates the Ministry’s commitment to addressing the ongoing feedback from the field, providing a more conducive training environment for medical interns.
Moses Bar Siman-Tov, the Director-General of the Ministry of Health, asserted that the steps taken to streamline the internship will significantly enhance training efficiency and maintain the stability of the healthcare system while bolstering medical servstarts in peripheral areas.
The reform will be implemented gradually to avoid overwhelming hospitals, ensuring that the transition is manageable for all stakeholders involved.
Conclusion
The impending changes to the Israeli medical internship system represent a progressive step in medical education, aiming to better prepare future doctors while addressing the pressing needs highlighted by recent cohorts of interns. The Ministry of Health’s commitment to reform reflects an evolving healthcare landscape focused on both educational excellence and operational efficiency