Jerusalem, 9 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — More Than half of 634 Israeli medical interns and residents surveyed said they intend to work abroad within the next five years, raising concerns about Israel’s future medical workforce.
“The study findings indicate a national challenge of the highest order for decision-makers and the health system in Israel,” researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Ariel University warned. “Retaining young doctors can no longer be limited to improving salaries or reducing shift workloads.”
The study found that 53.2% of respondents said they intend to work abroad as doctors within the next five years. Nearly three in 10, or 28.6%, said they had already taken practical steps toward working abroad.
The findings showed a strong association between dissatisfaction with working conditions and intentions to work abroad. Low salaries, long working hours and difficulties maintaining a work-life balance were among the main factors associated with plans to work abroad.
The study also found that respondents’ concerns extended beyond workplace conditions. Political and security concerns were associated with intentions to work abroad, while respondents reported low levels of trust in government decision-making and its responsiveness to public sentiment. The political climate was identified as a source of personal concern, followed by security and economic conditions. The more negatively respondents viewed the political and security climate, the stronger their intention to work abroad.
The research was conducted by Dr. Ofer Edelstein, Prof. Yaakov Bachner and Prof. Dan Greenberg of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, along with Prof. Thelma Kushnir of Ariel University.
The participants, who had an average age of 33.7, were doctors in the early stages of postgraduate medical training. They completed an anonymous online questionnaire distributed by the Israel Medical Association to medical interns and residents.
Despite concerns about their working conditions and the broader environment, respondents expressed strong appreciation for their profession, particularly the challenge and interest of medical work and their professional relationships with colleagues.
Intentions also varied by career stage and specialty. Interns in the second stage of their internship were more likely to report plans to work abroad than those in the first stage, while surgery and anesthesiology residents reported the highest levels of intention to work abroad.
The findings come amid evidence that increasing numbers of Israeli physicians are spending extended periods abroad. A Tel Aviv University study released Sunday found that about 1,370 Israeli physicians spent at least 12 months abroad between 2023 and 2025, nearly twice the number recorded during the comparable period a decade earlier.
That study cautioned that spending extended periods abroad does not necessarily mean permanent emigration, as physicians may leave for training, research or fellowships. However, it said the sharp increase is concerning, particularly as more experienced physicians are spending time abroad. More than 20% of the physicians who spent at least 12 months abroad were aged 45 or older, compared with 14% a decade earlier.
“Since 2023, the State of Israel has been losing its best people,” said Prof. Itai Ater, one of researchers involved in the Tel Aviv University study.
The researchers said retaining young doctors will require measures that go beyond addressing salaries and workloads, including efforts to strengthen their sense of security and confidence in their professional future in Israel.