Israel’s Minister of Health, Haim Katz, together with Ministry Director-General Moshe Bar Siman Tov, visited the national headquarters of United Hatzalah in Jerusalem this week for a professional working visit focused on emergency preparedness, medical response, and strengthening cooperation between the organization and Israel’s healthcare system.
The visit comes as Israel continues to face ongoing health, security, and operational challenges, underscoring the importance of rapid emergency medical response capabilities nationwide.
United Hatzalah Founder and President Eli Beer, CEO Ehud Davidson, Deputy CEO Eli Pollak, and members of the organization’s executive leadership welcomed the Minister and Director-General to the organization’s National Dispatch and Command Center.
During the visit, the delegation observed the advanced technological systems that enable United Hatzalah to identify and dispatch the nearest available volunteer medic to an emergency scene within seconds. They also met with dispatch teams coordinating emergency response efforts across the country.
Particular attention was given to the advanced medical equipment carried by volunteers, including professional emergency medical kits, tactical stretchers, and lifesaving resuscitation devices used daily in the field. The Minister and Director-General also received an overview of the organization’s specialized emergency response capabilities, including its Psychotrauma and Crisis Response Unit, Drone Unit, and fleet of ambucycles and specialized off road emergency vehicles.
The focus of visit was to strengthen the ongoing coordination between the Ministry of Health and United Hatzalah during both routine operations and national emergencies. Discussions highlighted the importance of seamless cooperation between volunteer responders, healthcare providers, and security agencies in reducing response times and improving patient outcomes.
Minister Katz also expressed appreciation for the organization’s diverse volunteer network, which includes men and women from across Israel’s many communities and backgrounds.
“Today, I met people who leave behind their families, workplaces, and daily routines in order to save lives entirely on a volunteer basis, driven by a true sense of mission,” said Minister Katz. “United Hatzalah is a significant part of Israel’s emergency medical response system, with the ability to reach anyone, anywhere, within minutes. The cooperation between the Ministry of Health and the organization is important both during routine times and emergencies, and we will continue working to remove barriers and provide volunteers with the tools they need so they can continue doing what they do every day: saving lives.”
Eli Beer emphasized the importance of continued cooperation between the Ministry and the organization.
“The partnership between United Hatzalah and the Ministry of Health significantly strengthens our collective ability to save lives nationwide,” Beer said. “Our volunteers serve as a vital extension of Israel’s healthcare system, providing rapid lifesaving care to anyone in need, regardless of background or circumstance.”
Every day, thousands of United Hatzalah volunteers remain on call across Israel, ready to respond within moments whenever and wherever emergencies occur.
