Israel’s emergency medical service, Magen David Adom, provides a public ambulance service, first aid stations, a nationwide blood donor program, blood banks, and first aid courses. MDA operates primarily with the help of 10,000 volunteers, many of them high school students.
The vast majority of the Israeli population is insured by one of four existing health funds that offer day-to-day consultations with doctors and specialists, and insure members for hospitalization.
But modern healthcare facilities and big spending only go so far in keeping Israel healthy: Health education programs are widely used to combat smoking and overeating and encourage physical exercise. Safe driving campaigns have become a regular aspect of daily life. To combat pollution of its coastlines, Israel has adopted a multifaceted program of legislation, enforcement, beach and shore clean-up. Treating wastewater has also become a priority in order to protect public health and provide an additional water source of agricultural irrigation.
Even when Israel was still a fledgling country, it made a commitment to share its experience in the area of public health with other developing nations. Its achievements and solutions have been offered in areas such as mother and child health, the reduction of infant mortality and the prevention and reduction of communicable diseases and the eradication of endemic diseases like malaria. To this end Israel created MASHAV – the center for International Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Health professionals from around the world receive training from MASHAV to help them handle public health problems in their own countries.
But there is still one more component in the story of Israel’s healthcare success: Happiness. According to the 2018 World Happiness Report, Israel was ranked as the 11th happiest nation in the world. A happier nation is a healthier nation. A toast to Israel’s health and happiness!