Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., November 28, 2008 Kislev 1, 5769 | | Israel Time: 01:43 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File

Gov't cuts a break to immigrant docs By Cnaan Liphshiz An ongoing shortage of doctors prompted the Absorption and Health Ministries to strike a deal last week to include more immigrant doctors in Israel's health system by extending subsidies for medical interns and helping immigrant physicians to obtain higher scores on medical license tests. But immigrant doctors told Anglo File they thought the program ignored cardinal problems. "We must continue to encourage the immigration of doctors from all over the world, and help them find their place in the Israeli health system," Absorption Minister Eli Aflalo said in reference to the plan. "The shortage requires a combined effort with the Health Ministry for the optimal absorption of new physicians." Advertisement In a bid to encourage medical institutions to hire immigrant intern doctors, the Absorption Ministry agreed to subsidize 50 percent of the interning doctors' salaries for two years in all public health institutions. Israel currently has 11,351 immigrant doctors, according to recent government data, making up a third of all doctors. But according to Dr. Romeo Wecht, a renowned cardiologist from London who immigrated to Israel earlier this year, the new program fails to address one of the health system's most serious problems. "Unfortunately, doctors' salaries in Israel are often 50-percent lower than in the West," he said. "Until the ministry does something about that, Israel will not be able to attract top-quality doctors and will have to settle for mediocre ones." Wecht said he would rather see government funds going toward improving doctors' salaries. Additionally, Wecht complained of the lack of modern diagnostic equipment missing from most Israeli hospitals, which he says is to be found in similarly-sized institutions abroad. "That's another area which could be more effective in bringing doctors from the West," he added. Another concern involves the government's medical license test, which all immigrant physicians save those from the U.S. must pass to practice here. Graduates who receive a grade of over 70 in a special Absorption Ministry preparatory course are currently entitled to a 10-point bonus on their first licensing test. The new deal will allow graduates of the course to retain the 10-point bonus for three licensing tests over a period of two years after graduation. The ministry also launched a special website designed to help immigrant doctors and nurses study for the government licensing exam. The site, http://www.rntest.health.gov.il, is accessible in five languages: English, Spanish, French, Russian and Hebrew. Dr. Akim Geishin, a psychiatrist who emigrated from Russia in the 1990s, said the ministry's moves are insufficient. "What's the big deal - the 10-point bonus? It won't help hardly anyone." Geishin, who runs one of the courses for immigrant doctors studying for the local licensing test, added: "The problem isn't so much that people are not passing the exam - they're just not coming to Israel." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Signs of al-Qaida Is the global terror network behind the deadly attacks in Mumbai? Denying Nazi links 104-year-old entertainer files lawsuit: It's not my fault Hitler was my fan.

Read & React Conflicting reports emerge on release of Mumbai Chabad center hostages Responses: 105 Mazuz: Olmert indictment possible in Rishon Tours scandal Responses: 45 Ari Shavit: While the Palestinian track fails, let's focus on Syria Responses: 36 Israel Harel: Defense establishment gives enemy hope that Israel's end is near Responses: 39 More Headlines 00:22 Reports differ over release of Mumbai Chabad center captives 00:33 Yossi Melman / Is al-Qaida behind the Mumbai terror attacks? 01:09 IN PICTURES / Mumbai ravaged by deadly terror attacks 22:35 European powers: Iran showing 'utter disrespect' for UN nuclear watchdog 20:58 104-year-old entertainer files lawsuit: It's not my fault Hitler was my fan 23:31 Body of one-day-old baby found in Be'er Sheva dumpster 17:14 Pope to make rare visit to Israel in May, following months of Jewish-Catholic tension 00:16 Belgian public broadcaster cancels ad that featured Hitler as a stripper 00:32 'I just grabbed the baby and ran,' says Mumbai Chabad employee 01:14 Norwegian ex-premier counters anti-Semitism accusations, slams Israel 15:24 Iran missile launch into space was 'publicity stunt,' Israeli experts say 22:52 Ministers and policymakers approve plan to combat economic crisis 16:03 Ultra-Orthodox MK Ravitz announces retirement from Knesset 04:25 IDF rejects claims it killed Palestinians in defiance of court 07:08 ANALYSIS / What it means: the path to indicting Olmert 10:01 Court ruling sees IDF targeted assassinations as last resort Previous Editions Select Day 27 nov 26 nov 25 nov 24 nov 23 nov 21 nov 20 nov 19 nov 18 nov 17 nov 16 nov 14 nov

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