Israel has faced a lack of doctors for years, mainly due to a higher-than-average birth rate compared to other Western countries and an aging population of doctors.
Nefesh B’Nefesh’s Paris MedEx event, which seeks to attract foreign physicians to Israel, drew hundreds of doctors on Sunday, all of whom hope to make aliyah.
The event was organized in cooperation with the Israeli Aliyah and Integration Ministries, the Health Ministry, the Negev Galilee and National Resilience Ministry, and the Jewish Agency for Israel.
At the event, hundreds of Jewish physicians from France, Belgium, Germany, and neighboring countries gathered, representing dozens of specialties. There, they met with 11 recruiting medical institutions, including Hadassah Medical Center, Soroka Medical Center, and other leading healthcare providers. According to the Ministry of Health, attendees submitted more than 50 applications for medical license conversions due to the convention.
Additionally, for the first time in MedEx history, participants were able to take the national YAEL Hebrew proficiency exam, which foreign doctors may need in order to gain employment in Israel.
Israel has faced a lack of doctors for years, mainly due to a higher-than-average birth rate compared to other Western countries and an aging population of doctors. This shortage has particularly affected Israel's peripheral communities. Yet, according to Nefesh B’Nefesh, roughly one in three new immigrant doctors began or completed their residencies in Israel’s northern or southern region.
At the Paris event, Minister for the Negev, Galilee, and National Resilience Yitzhak Wasserlauf emphasized the importance of immigrant doctors' role in supporting these communities.
“Today, more than ever, the State of Israel needs quality doctors in Safed, Metula, Kiryat Shmona, Beersheba, and Dimona,” he said.
'Another step in strengthening our national resilience'
“Our Ministry is proud to support and partner with this important initiative of Nefesh B’Nefesh, which turns Zionist values into action by bringing outstanding medical professionals to Israel, who will strengthen hospitals and communities across the Negev, Galilee, and southern regions. This is another step in strengthening our national resilience, not only in security, but in healthcare as well.”
As part of the International Medical Aliyah Program (IMAP), events such as MedEx simplify the often complicated process by offering credential recognition, job interviews at leading healthcare institutions, and help with navigating Israeli grants, licensing, and relocation. IMAP, which launched in 2024 with the goal of bringing 2,000 physicians to Israel in five years, has seen over 1,100 immigrate since its launch.
“This marks the third consecutive year that, together with our partners, we have had the privilege of bringing hundreds of doctors to Israel annually,” said Minister of Aliyah and Integration, Ofir Sofer.
“Their impact on Israel’s healthcare system is tremendous, particularly in the Negev and Galil, as is the strong sense of purpose they experience," added Sofer. "At this pivotal time, they are choosing to come to Israel and make a unique contribution, despite the many challenges involved in the Aliyah journey, which is often a significant challenge in its own right.”
Co-Founder and Chairman of Nefesh B’Nefesh, Tony Gelbart, said that this year’s MedEx France shows the dedication of doctors who choose to move to Israel.
“These future Olim,” he said, “bring not only exceptional professional expertise, but also a profound sense of purpose. Their impact is already being felt across Israel’s healthcare landscape, from north to south, and we look forward to assisting many more physicians, from all over the world, to integrate in the near future.”
Previously, MedEx programs have been held in Europe, North and South America, and Australia.