Ministry of Health: Home Hospitalizations in Israel Surge 280-Fold in Six Years
Israel's Ministry of Health reports a 280-fold surge in acute home hospitalizations, rising from 136 in 2018 to 38,000 in 2024. The service now handles 10% of internal medicine cases, backed by a 220 million shekel budget.
Home hospitalization in Israel, which until a few years ago was a relatively minor service, is rapidly becoming a significant part of the national hospitalization system. A new report published today (Sunday) by the Ministry of Health reveals that the number of acute home hospitalizations surged from just 136 in 2018 to approximately 38,000 in 2024 — an increase of nearly 280-fold within six years. In total, about 115,000 home hospitalizations were conducted during this period, including COVID-19 patients.
Acute home hospitalization is designed to serve as an alternative to ward hospitalization for patients whose medical condition allows it, providing advanced medical care at home while maintaining safety and continuity of care. According to the Ministry of Health, Israel's supply of general hospital beds per capita is lower than the OECD average, while the population continues to grow and age, driving up the demand for hospitalization services.
Scale of Home Hospitalization
The number of home hospitalization days reached approximately 162,000 in 2024, compared to only a few hundred in 2018. On average, about 445 patients were hospitalized at home each day, a figure equivalent to about a tenth of the capacity of general internal medicine and geriatric-internal medicine wards. During the peak month, about 600 patients were treated at home simultaneously, an volume equivalent to about 17 internal medicine wards.
According to the report, in 2024, acute home hospitalization already accounted for about 12% of all hospitalizations and about 11% of hospitalization days in the examined internal medicine frameworks. This means that more than a tenth of relevant internal medicine activity is now carried out in the patient's home.
The data shows that the service is largely utilized by the elderly population. Between 2021 and 2024, 73% of home-hospitalized patients were aged 65 and over, and 56% were aged 75 and over. The average duration of hospitalization was 4.4 days.
The five most common diagnoses were:
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Pneumonia
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Urinary tract infections
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Cellulitis
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Dehydration
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Heart failure
In February 2024, at the peak of winter morbidity, the number of simultaneous home-hospitalized patients reached approximately 600, compared to about 353 in October.
Transition from Community and Hospitals to the Home
According to the report, between 2021 and 2024, about 84% of patients were referred to home hospitalization directly from the community (HMOs), and only about 16% from hospitals. However, there has been a consistent increase in the share of hospital referrals — from about 10% in 2021 to about 19% in 2024.
The shift toward hospital-led home hospitalization began as a pilot project and was later anchored in the budget settlement laws for 2026–2030. These mechanisms facilitate patient referrals, direct operation of the service by hospitals, and the conversion of physical hospital beds into home beds. Approximately 220 million shekels have been allocated for this move over five years.
Future Expansion and Regulation
Alongside the expansion, the report highlights the need for deeper regulation of the field. The Ministry of Health states that a unified national model is required, which will include expanding target populations, strengthening cooperation between hospitals and HMOs, developing remote monitoring and telemedicine, improving referral mechanisms, and reducing gaps in service distribution — particularly in peripheral areas.
The ministry estimates that home hospitalization will continue to expand in the coming years as part of the response to population aging and hospital congestion. The emerging direction is a transition from a model managed primarily by HMOs to a broader system where hospitals also play a significant role.
The report identifies several areas with potential for service expansion, including acute pediatric hospitalization, geriatrics (including nursing homes), post-operative surgical care, obstetrics and gynecology, cardiology, oncology, and psychiatry. The Ministry of Health also revealed that a pilot program for high-risk maternity patients under hospital medical supervision is currently underway.
