Nefeseh B'Nefesh to encourage MDs to come in order to compensate for expected doctor shortage.
By HAVIV RETTIG, JPOST.COM STAFFdoctors 224.88(photo credit: )
A new aliya campaign will provide up to $60,000 in grants to doctors under 40 who choose to leave their homes overseas and make aliya.
The campaign, launched by Nefesh B'Nefesh and the New York-based Legacy Heritage Fund, will be offered to British and North American doctors, who will be required to live in Israel at least nine months.
The initiative comes to help compensate for an expected shortage in doctors, since Israel's medical schools aren't training enough doctors to maintain the current number of some 3.5 per thousand Israelis.
The grants, in the form of an initial fellowship upon arrival in Israel, and monthly supplementary income for the first two years, total approximately $60,000.
These grants are available for doctors under the age of 40 who have completed their training in North America and the UK and are willing to practice at least nine months a year in Israel.
"Nefesh B'Nefesh recognizes the seriousness of this national need and is honored to be able to leverage our existing infrastructure to strengthen the medical community here," said Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Nefesh B'Nefesh. "While currently, many physicians making aliya prefer to continue their practices abroad, this fellowship will enable doctors to remain in Israel and sustain their careers domestically."
Support for the Physician Aliya Fellowship has been generously made possible by Legacy Heritage Fund Limited - Keren Morasha of New York and Jerusalem, in partnership with Nefesh B'Nefesh, who have helped close to 90 doctors make aliya to date.
Health Minister Ya'acov Ben Yizri stated: "We welcome this vital initiative, not only because of the importance of aliya, but also due to the shortage of doctors Israel is expected to suffer from in the upcoming years."
"The Health Ministry will do all in its power to ease the absorption process and assist the doctors with their professional integration in Israel," he added.
