Hundreds of physicians from across Europe gathered in Paris for the third annual MedEx event, part of Israel’s ongoing effort to address a nationwide shortage of doctors.
The event, organized by Nefesh B’Nefesh in partnership with Israel’s Ministries of Aliyah and Integration; Health; Negev, Galilee, and National Resilience; and the Jewish Agency for Israel, drew participants from France, Belgium, Germany and neighboring countries. Attendees represented about 30 medical specialties, along with medical students considering careers in Israel. More than 50 applications for medical license conversion were submitted during the event, organizers said.
The initiative is part of the International Medical Aliyah Program, which aims to streamline the process for physicians immigrating to Israel. The program offers credential recognition, job interviews with major health care providers and guidance on licensing, grants and relocation in a single setting.
“This marks the third consecutive year that, together with our partners, we have brought hundreds of doctors to Israel annually,” said Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer. He said the physicians’ impact is especially significant in underserved regions such as the Negev and the Galilee, Israel’s northern region.
Nefesh B’Nefesh co-founder and chairman Tony Gelbart said the program reflects both professional commitment and a sense of purpose among participants. “Their impact is already being felt across Israel’s health care system, from north to south,” he said.
Israel has set a goal of bringing 2,000 new physicians to the country over five years to strengthen its medical workforce, particularly in the southern and northern regions. Organizers said the 2026 Paris MedEx builds on the initiative’s success, bolstered by key partners including the Marcus Foundation, the Gottesman Fund, Jewish Federations of North America, the Azrieli Foundation and the Arison Foundation.
For the first time, participants were able to take the YAEL Hebrew proficiency exam on-site. The test, administered in partnership with the National Institute for Testing and Evaluation, may become part of licensing requirements beginning in 2027. Officials say the added requirement could pose a challenge for some immigrant physicians.
“Today, more than ever, the State of Israel needs quality doctors” in outlying communities, said Yitzhak Wasserlauf, minister for the Negev, the Galilee and national resilience. He said the program helps strengthen both health care and national resilience.
Since the initiative began, more than 1,100 physicians have immigrated to Israel within about two years, according to organizers. In 2025, 57 physicians from France made aliyah, the term for Jewish immigration to Israel, compared with 25 the previous year. About 30% of immigrant medical residents have trained or completed residencies in hospitals in northern and southern Israel.
Jewish Agency Chairman Doron Almog described the influx as a reflection of global Jewish solidarity. He said the arrival of medical professionals helps reduce gaps in health care access in Israel’s periphery.
The event was attended by senior Israeli officials, representatives of major health funds such as Clalit and Meuhedet and delegates from leading hospitals including Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, also known as Ichilov, and Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba.
First published: 10:57, 05.04.26