The Ministry of Health's surgical waiting times report, based on 2024 data and released this week, shows that Hillel Yaffe Medical Center is among the most efficient and accessible hospitals in Israel's healthcare system. The report reviews a broad range of surgical procedures performed at hospitals across the country and shows that Hillel Yaffe's average waiting times are short across a variety of surgical specialties.
Tonsillectomies and adenoidectomies (removal of the adenoids, or "third tonsil") performed by theDepartment of Otolaryngology (ENT) have a waiting time of just about two weeks (15 days), compared with a national median of 78 days. Hillel Yaffe also reports the shortest waiting time in Israel for thyroidectomy, with a median wait of just 16 days, compared with the national median of 56 days.
Surgery at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center. Shorter waiting times
The medical center also performs exceptionally well for more complex procedures. Patients wait only about three and a half weeks for bariatric surgery (median of 24 days), compared with a national median of 55 days. Waiting times are also particularly short for hernia repair and arthroscopic surgery, with a median of 27 days (less than four weeks), while patients wait just 29 days (about four weeks) for gallbladder removal surgery. These figures demonstrate both efficiency and clinical excellence within Israel's complex and demanding public healthcare system, where access to surgery is also influenced by the referral and provider selection arrangements of the health plans—factors that are beyond the hospital's control.
"These results are the outcome of numerous initiatives aimed at optimizing surgical scheduling and ensuring the efficient day-to-day management of our operating rooms," says Prof. Mickey Dudkiewicz, Director of Hillel Yaffe Medical Center. "We have demonstrated flexibility and agility while improving our collaboration with the health plans and keeping our patients' best interests at the forefront of every key decision. Our medical and logistical teams work around the clock with deep commitment, and this report is a well-deserved recognition of their outstanding efforts. We continually strive to accommodate more patients for surgery, and for care in general, while maintaining short waiting times."
At a time when Israel's public healthcare system is under significant strain, Hillel Yaffe's management model demonstrates that when processes are managed effectively, the time between a clinical decision and surgery can be dramatically reduced.
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