MRI machines may be left without doctors who can decipher the tests: The Radiology Association today (Monday) called on the Minister of Health to "save the imaging system in Israel."
The union's chairman, Professor Ilan Shelef, warns that there is a cumulative shortage of 250 radiologists.
The budget recently approved by the government agreed to allocate 6 new MRI machines to be installed in the periphery.
For the first time, these devices will be transferred to the HMOs to enable them to be operated in the community.
But the union warns that there will be no one to operate the sophisticated, vital and expensive devices.
"The radiology profession suffers from years of neglect," Professor Shelef wrote to the health minister.
"Radiology is a profession that is one of the most important infrastructures on which modern medicine is built. The ability and speed of decipherment are no less important than the availability of appointments and their location in the country. Which is already eroding today. "
There are about 500 radiologists in Israel, but from an examination by a professional external to the union, it is necessary to increase the workforce by 50% and there is a shortage of about 250 more radiologists.
"The shortage is spread all over the country, both in the large hospitals in the center and in the hospitals in the periphery. Along with the addition of the equipment you recently approved, standards must also be approved for those who operate and decipher them. Otherwise they will remain useless." , Says Prof. Shelef.
Dr. Guy Ben Bezalel, an oncologist from Sheba, recently warned on his Twitter account about the complexity of the situation and said: "It is impossible to manage oncology patients when MRI answers take a month. There is a solution of course - again we will work through personal connections and friendships, which is so wrong. The problem is national and requires an urgent increase in the standards of radiologists and radiologists. "