The cabinet on Sunday approved the establishment of a new medical school in Israel, in the Galil. The new school would be the fifth medical school in Israel and the first established since the opening of Ben-Gurion University Medical School in the Negev, which was established in 1973.

While the government approval is indeed a major hurdle that has been tackled, the road to establishing a new medical school is a long one, one containing many obstacles.

Opponents fear a fifth school may overtax Israel’s limited resources, and they prefer expansion of the existing schools, Hadassah, Tel Aviv, Technion, and Ben-Gurion. The opponents also cite the poor timing, stating it will be virtually impossible to raise contributor funds for such a program during the current global economic crisis. They also fear there may not be enough senior lecturers and instructors to staff the school and the northern location would further complicate attracting staff. Opponents remain skeptical regarding the ability of Israeli hospitals to provide an adequate number of high-level clinical rotations in certain fields as well.

Proponents explain the move is badly needed and there are not enough medical  school seats today, explaining thousands of Israelis are studying medicine abroad, including at least 1,000 in Hungary. Regarding fears of adequate staff and location, they point out that as Highway 6 (Cross-Israel Highway) completes its northern section, travel to and from the area will be significantly simplified. They also feel that the new medical school will attract Israelis who have been working in medicine abroad, and it may also serve to attract senior physicians who may staff the teaching institute.

Perhaps a bit overly optimistic but supporters of the plan feel classes for the seven-year Israeli medical school program can get underway as soon as 2010 since the first three years of classes only require space for didactic studies do not demand any clinical settings.

A number of years ago, the health community reports there are 3.5 doctors per 1,000 residents of Israel, and the number is dropping annually, expected to reach 2.7 physicians per 1,000 residents by 2020. Supporters of the plan insist the time to act is now towards reversing the declining trend.

Bar Ilan University over recent years has also been working towards opening a medical school.

President Shimon Peres, who is a former minister of Negev and Galil development, praised the cabinet decision, confident a medical school will bring new life to the north. His feelings are echoed by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who stated the move is a welcome one. Some members of the medical community feel the opening of a northern medical school would compel area hospitals to raise the level of care, a welcome byproduct of a new teaching institution.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)