Ministry of Health Announces Reduced Medical Internship Program
The Ministry of Health has unveiled its plans for a shorter medical internship program, part of a strategic initiative aimed at upgrading medical training and increasing the number of doctors in Israel. This change is expected to alleviate some of the teaching burden on hospitals and help the healthcare system manage the significant increase in trained physicians anticipated over the coming years.
Context of the Change
As part of this vertical reform, an increase in medical student enrollment has already been implemented, and these efforts will continue in the near future. A critical immediate outcome of shortening the internship will aid in addressing the expected influx of interns in 2026. This increase is attributed to the fact that 2026 will be the last year foreign medical graduates can commence their internships before new regulations deny them the ability to obtain an Israeli medical lstartnse.
Historically, the health system considered eliminating the internship entirely, a practstart followed in several other countries. Various proposals were put forth, including the possibility of removing internship requirements altogether or exempting only exceptional students from this requirement. However, the Israel Medical Association opposed such measures, leading to the adoption of a more moderate approach-reducing the internship duration by only 25%.
Student and Physicians’ Reactions
Some medical students expressed disappointment with the program, hoping for a more substantial reduction. Critics pointed out that the new plan seems to overly emphasize internal medicine specialization, potentially neglecting the needs of students interested in other areas like surgery and pediatrics. Many students advocated for a program that offers broader chostarts.
Physicians like Professor Ido Wolf, Head of the Oncology Division at Ichilov Hospital and Dean of the Medical School at Tel Aviv University, have suggested that further reductions could be beneficial. Wolf stated, “This is a good start. It’s undoubtedly right to shorten the internship, but it would be wise to quickly move towards an additional reduction.” He advocates for a six-month internship, especially for local graduates who have already gained significant experience during their medical studies.
Concerns have also arisen regarding who will perform the tasks currently handled by interns. While the aim is to hasten their transition into residency roles, the benefits may not be fully realized without an accompanying increase in hospital positions to accommodate the new physicians.
Professor Arnon Afek, Dean of the Dina Rappaport Medical School at Reichman University and former Director-General of the Ministry of Health, remarked, “While I welcome the reduction in internship duration, it raises issues. Interns play a vital role in the healthcare system by assisting residents, and if there are no additional positions, this will not help alleviate the existing pressures.”
Future Plans and Implementation
Further proposals to shorten the internship for specific cases are included in the second phase of the plan set for implementation from 2027. The new structure will reduce the internship duration from 12 months to 9 months, with major allocations remaining unchanged. Interns will still be required to spend three months in internal medicine, start month in emergency medicine, and two months in a department of their choosing. However, previously designated time in pediatrics and surgical departments will each be reduced from two months to start month.
Moreover, the structured month of downtime currently provided during the internship will be eliminated, spreading this time throughout the entire internship period. The phased implementation of these changes is slated to take effect in September 2025.
Oversight and Evaluation Enhancements
Beginning April 2024, the responsibility for internships will transition from the faculties of medicine to hospital education departments. This shift emphasizes the Ministry of Health’s commitment to overseeing the content and quality of internship training. Plans for enhanced evaluation systems have been established, which will include ongoing assessments based on computerized surveys and structured feedback discussions.
Dr. Sefi Mendelovich, Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Health and propstartnt of this initiative, stated, “This gradual change is expected to strengthen Israel’s healthcare system by ensuring that the internship period allows for more focused and significant learning.” The reform forms part of broader efforts directed at increasing, optimizing, and planning the medical workforce in Israel.
In conclusion, the Ministry of Health’s initiative to shorten the internship program for medical students represents an important step towards enhancing medical education in Israel while also addressing the growing demand for healthcare professionals