Jerusalem, 6 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Home hospitalization, once considered experimental, has become an important part of Israel’s healthcare system, according to a Health Ministry report released Sunday.
In 2018, Israel recorded just 136 home hospitalizations. By 2024, the number had risen to about 38,000, or 3.9 per 1,000 residents. About 115,000 home hospitalizations took place between 2018 and 2024.
By 2024, home care accounted for about 12% of hospitalizations in the internal medicine settings examined and 11% of hospital days. The report suggests that many of these cases replace hospital stays rather than add to the overall number of admissions.
In 2024, there were 33.3 hospitalizations per 1,000 residents, only slightly above the 2019 rate of 31.7. Home hospitalizations accounted for 3.9 per 1,000.
The service mainly treats older patients. Some 73% were 65 or older. Common conditions included pneumonia, urinary infections, cellulitis, dehydration, and heart failure.