Sheba Director Prof. Yitshak Kreiss Appointed Interim Health Ministry Chief

Sheba Medical Center Director Prof. Yitshak Kreiss will temporarily serve as Director General of the Ministry of Health while continuing to manage the hospital. Health Minister Haim Katz asked him to assume the role following the resignation of outgoing Director General Moshe Bar Siman Tov, and Kreiss accepted the appointment.

According to an announcement released by the minister's office, Kreiss will take office at the end of the month, coinciding with the conclusion of Bar Siman Tov's tenure. This dual appointment raises regulatory scrutiny, as Sheba is Israel's largest government-run hospital, while the Ministry of Health acts as the primary regulator overseeing all medical institutions nationwide.

To address potential conflicts of interest, a formal non-disclosure and oversight agreement is expected to be signed through the Civil Service Commission, though specific details regarding the arrangement or the exact duration of the interim appointment were not immediately disclosed. Minister Katz emphasized the critical need for administrative stability and continuity during a challenging period for the national healthcare system.

Prof. Kreiss, a retired brigadier general and former IDF Chief Medical Officer, has successfully led Sheba Medical Center over the past decade. His appointment aims to ensure steady leadership as the ministry navigates ongoing systemic challenges, including specialist shortages, extended waiting times, and rising physician emigration.