Jerusalem, 15 October, 2026 (TPS-IL) — A record 1,649 medical students began their studies in Israel for the 2026/27 academic year, marking a 14% annual increase and an 82% surge since 2021, according to Health Ministry data released Thursday.
The expansion stems from a coordinated initiative involving the Health and Finance Ministries, the Council for Higher Education, and national teaching hospitals to scale up training capacity.
Enrolment in allied health professions also rose, with physical therapy up 63% and occupational therapy up 72% since 2021.
Government forecasts project annual medical admissions will reach 2,000 by 2030, expanding Israel’s active physician workforce from 37,000 in 2025 to 53,000 by 2035 to meet long-term population growth.
