“There is no mass exodus of doctors, but even the loss of 3-4 people can be a serious problem”
Dr. Sefi Mendelovich, finishing his tenure as Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Health, summarizes the major reforms he led. In an interview, he discusses the “Enablers” team, the introduction of the physician associate profession, and the system's readiness for emergencies.
In recent years, a team affectionately known as the “Enablers” has been operating within the Ministry of Health. The team was established by the Deputy Director General and Head of the Health Division, Dr. Sefi Mendelovich, to lead processes requiring a shift in culture and values.
“This is a special forces unit of people who do not like to take credit. They consult with the field, enlist it for change, set goals, metrics, create platforms for cooperation, and even take care of computer systems. The divisions were very surprised that this is how change is made.”
Without this team, it is hard to imagine how the Ministry of Health could have carried out the deep reforms of recent years. These include launching the physician associate profession, shortening the internship, workforce planning, emergency preparedness, and a dramatic change in the disciplinary response to doctors who commit sexual harassment.
Reforms and Challenges
Mendelovich is a pediatrician by training and makes sure to stay in touch with the clinic. He is the son of a Holocaust survivor, and his mother suffers from dementia. “This is the package I take with me everywhere. I am a doctor, a man of the system, and I also know the patient's side well,” he says.
One of the most radical reforms was the implementation of the physician associate profession. “These are high-quality people who do not want to go through the full path of medicine. They undergo a shorter degree, followed by focused training in the hospital under the supervision of a senior doctor,” Mendelovich explains. The first physician associates in Israel will be immigrants from the US who are already working in the profession.
Revolution in Disciplinary Practice
Mendelovich also focused on handling doctors suspected of sexual harassment. “The ministry has become a court,” he says. The change in approach means the ministry no longer waits for the criminal trial to conclude if there is a strong evidentiary basis. “I don't just want to prevent the harm, I want this person not to be a doctor. To my joy, I received full backing.”
