The Israeli Health Ministry has released its first comprehensive national report detailing waiting times for MRI scans and 19 elective surgical procedures across the public healthcare system. Data from 2024 and 2025 shows that despite an 8.8% increase in demand for MRI services, wait times for patients have remained stable or improved across the country.
MRI Scan Trends and Regional Disparities
According to the Health Ministry, the public health system performed 570,076 MRI examinations in 2025, an increase from 523,512 the previous year. Despite this growth in volume, the median wait time from a physician’s referral to an actual scan decreased from 37 days to 35 days. The average wait time also saw a reduction, falling from 57.3 days to 55.1 days.
Regional data highlights significant differences in access and utilization. The Central District reported the highest usage at 69.3 scans per 1,000 residents, while Jerusalem had the lowest at 37.2 per 1,000. Geographic convenience also varies; while 94% of Jerusalem residents received their scans within their home district, only 65% of residents in northern Israel did the same. Older adults aged 65 and over recorded the highest usage rates, and women utilized MRI services more frequently than men.
Did You Know? The number of MRI machines in Israel has expanded significantly over the last 17 years, growing from just 10 units in 2008 to more than 70 by 2025.
Elective Surgery Wait Times
The report provides a detailed look at wait times for 19 publicly funded elective procedures performed in 28 general hospitals. Data indicates that wait times vary widely depending on the nature of the surgery. Breast lumpectomy and reconstruction procedures had the shortest median wait time at 25 days, while nasal septum surgeries faced the longest delays, with a median wait of 89 days.
Other procedures with relatively short wait times included colon surgery at 27 days and vitrectomy at 29 days. Conversely, patients requiring tonsil and adenoid surgery or knee replacements faced median waits of 78 and 70 days, respectively. Nearly half of all patients scheduled for nasal septum surgery waited more than three months for their procedure.
Expert Insight: While Israel operates with fewer MRI machines per capita than some other nations, the Health Ministry suggests its wait times remain favorable when compared to countries like Canada, Sweden, and Norway. This indicates that the current operational efficiency in scheduling and result interpretation—which averages 9.3 days—is a primary factor in maintaining access despite high demand.
Future Outlook and System Capacity
The Ministry’s report serves as a baseline for understanding the current load on the public health infrastructure. As demand continues to rise, the system may face pressure to further expand capacity or adjust scheduling protocols to prevent wait times from regressing. Future reports could reveal whether the current trend of improved efficiency continues or if the increasing volume of patients eventually outpaces the growth in imaging and surgical resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which health fund performed the most MRI scans in 2025?
Clalit performed the highest total number of scans at 281,303. However, when adjusted for the number of insured members, Maccabi recorded the highest rate of usage at 65.8 scans per 1,000 members.
What is the average time to receive MRI results?
According to the report, the interpretation of MRI results takes an average of 9.3 days.
How do wait times for different surgeries compare?
Wait times vary significantly; breast lumpectomy and reconstruction have a median wait of 25 days, whereas nasal septum surgery has a median wait of 89 days. Roughly 50% of nasal septum patients wait more than three months, compared to about 10% for colon surgery patients.
How might regional disparities in MRI access influence future health policy decisions in the northern and central districts?