Israel health services prepare for possible war with Iran by closing unprotected clinics, expanding telehealth, and securing backup power for 2,400 ventilated patients amid fears of missile strikes in recent weeks.
Israel’s health system is implementing emergency plans to ensure continuity of care as tensions with Iran escalate and authorities warn of potential missile attacks.
Health funds have developed a nationwide strategy that prioritizes clinics with reinforced shelters or proximity to protected areas. Clinics that do not meet safety standards will close during emergencies, and patients will be redirected to nearby secure facilities.
Telehealth services are expanding and will become the primary mode of care if residents are instructed to remain at home. Officials say the system aims to protect vulnerable groups, including older adults and people with chronic illnesses.
Health Funds Close Unsafe Clinics, Expand Telehealth
Under a three-phase plan, each clinic’s protection level has been assessed, said Dr. Eran Metz, head of the Emergency Preparedness Division at Clalit Health Services.
“Clinics that do not meet the required protection standards will close during emergencies,” Metz told Maariv. He said alternative clinics within the same city or nearby communities will absorb patients.
The second phase includes mapping replacement clinics under Israel Health Services to ensure residents know where to seek treatment if their regular facility closes. The third phase involves preparing alternative buildings for temporary clinic operations and upgrading them for safer use. Telemedicine consultations, typically used for routine visits, will serve as the main channel for non-urgent care if movement is restricted. Health officials say the shift will reduce crowding and limit exposure during emergencies.
Backup Power Secured For Ventilated Patients
A key concern involves patients dependent on electrically powered medical devices, including ventilators, heart pumps, and oxygen generators.
Health authorities report that about 2,400 complex ventilated patients across Israel have received personal generators capable of supplying electricity for up to 72 hours. The health system has mapped patients who rely on such equipment and provided backup power solutions where needed.
In the event of outages, Israel Health Services officials said patients will be contacted and directed to charging stations or alternative power sources, officials said. Regional centers are being set up to distribute essential equipment and ensure continued access to life-sustaining devices. Hospitals in northern and central Israel have also reviewed electrical, water, and oxygen backup systems to confirm they can operate under enclosed conditions if required.
Hospitals Update Protocols After Missile Strike
Preparations follow lessons learned from the 2025 missile strike on Soroka Medical Center, which prompted updated emergency protocols across the country.
At Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa, administrators have reviewed bed distribution plans and support systems. Rambam has operated an underground emergency hospital for years and is prepared to activate it if instructed.
Any transfer of patients to underground facilities will occur only under explicit orders coordinated with Israel Health Services, Israel’s Home Front Command and the Health Ministry’s emergency operations center, based on security assessments, officials said. Health authorities emphasized that medical services continue to operate normally. Scheduled surgeries, checkups, and hospitalizations remain in place, and there have been no widespread cancellations.
“For now, the public should continue seeking medical care as usual,” officials said, stressing that preparedness measures are precautionary.
