New Rehabilitation Center in Ashdod

The residents of Israel’s South deserve quality medical care in their region.

There is a severe shortage of rehabilitation services in southern Israel - the healthcare system is stretched far beyond its breaking point, worsening since the start of the October 7 war. 30% of wounded patients and most of the war victims are residents of the south. 14,000 residents were treated in hospitals following Oct 7, with 42% coming with injured limbs, and 35% seeking support with emotional trauma. The system cannot support the hundreds of thousands of children, adolescents and adults who were physically injured and emotionally crushed by horrific traumas that left deep scars. 

Medical professionals and residents have warned for years about the concerning shortage of rehabilitation services in southern Israel. Periphery communities have only 11 rehabilitation centers, while central Israel has 43. Currently, wait times for rehabilitation in the south are at least one year, especially evident in mental health, physical rehabilitation, and pediatric rehabilitative care.



What does it mean for Israelis in need? Children with disabilities do not have rehabilitative daycare within manageable commuting distance from home. Pediatric cancer patients do not have routine treatment services in their area. Southern residents, including recovering patients and children, must travel about an hour and a half to Israel’s center for care.