Hundreds of doctors and medical workers are set to make aliyah from North America to help ease the manpower shortage in Israel's health system.
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Senior health officials met in New Jersey last week with 350 doctors, nurses, psychologists, and paramedical professionals interested in immigrating to Israel in the next six months to two years.
The meeting was an initiative of Nefesh B'Nefesh, the main organization facilitating immigration and absorption of new immigrants from North America, in cooperation with Israel's Aliyah and Integration Ministry, the Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL), the Jewish National Fund-USA, alongside Israel's Health Ministry, and the Israel Medical Association.
The aim of the meeting was to significantly cut red tape and hire attendees for various medical positions in both the center of the country and the periphery area upfront to allow them to make a significant contribution to the Israeli health system immediately upon making aliyah.
Nefesh B'Nefesh co-founder and executive director Rabbi Yehoshua Fass called the effort "a one-time opportunity for such a personal and necessary meeting between medical workers on the ground and senior health system [officials] in Israel."
Fass, who noted Israel currently faces a shortage of thousands of medical workers, said, "We must act tirelessly to help bring trained professionals who will bolster health services in Israel."
At the Medex event in New Jersey, participants began the process of converting a license to practice medicine in Israel and were interviewed by representatives of Israel's four national healthcare providers as well as hospitals situated in Israel's center and in the periphery.
Representatives of the Development of the Periphery, the Negev, and the Galilee Ministry spoke to attendees about government benefits for those who choose to live in those areas.
Development of the Periphery, the Negev, and the Galilee Minister Oded Forer said Israel would "make every effort" for the doctors making aliyah.
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