Israel is facing a shortage of radiologists due to several factors, including more doctors choosing to work remotely for medical companies abroad, according to a story published June 7 in the Jerusalem Post.
Regardless of the reason, the country has a shortage of about 250 radiologists. This has left patients waiting up to eight months for an MRI appointment and about two months for a CT appointment.
However, the waiting doesn't end there. Since there is a severe shortage of those who read the imaging results, CT results can take up to two months and the entire MRI process can take almost a year, according to the story.
Additionally, the situation is expected to get worse in Israel in the coming years thanks to a significant number of radiologists nearing retirement age, as well as fewer individuals choosing to enter the field, according to the story.