Health in Israel

Health in Israel is generally considered good.

Infant mortality is low. The life expectancy, 82.1 years is high. There is good management of chronic diseases and excellent primary care. Expenditure on healthcare is 7.2% of Gross Domestic Product, compared with an average of 9.2% in the OECD.

In 2003, Israel had the second highest rate of skin cancer in the world, However, this has decreased substantially since then due to public health campaigns recommending avoiding the hottest time of day, discouraging sun-bathing and using sun protection such as greater clothing coverage and sunscreen.

Hereditary breast, ovarian and melanoma cancer rates are particularly acute in Ashkenazi Jewish populations in Israel (31.8% of Israeli Jews), in-part due to a higher-prevalence of BRCA and BRCA2 mutations (1 in 40 vs 1 in 400 in most populations worldwide) in Ashkenazi Jewish populations, which increase the likelihood of hereditary cancers.