Israel Allocates $8.4M For First Pilot Program In New National Digital Health Plan

June 12, 2018 | The Digital Israel Initiative at the Israeli Ministry for Social Equality, the Israeli Health Ministry, and the Israel Innovation Authority have announced the allocation of the first NIS 30 million ($8.4 million) for the first pilot program as part of the NIS 1 billion (roughly $300 million) national digital health program approved by the Israeli cabinet in March.

The new pilot program to be carried out in healthcare organizations across Israel and will support research and development proposals and pilot facilities in the field of digital health. Companies selected for the program, in the field of medicine and health, will receive between 20 percent to 50 percent of approved R&D expenditures, with funding of up to 60 percent to 75 percent for proposals that show potential to significantly advance the public healthcare system in Israel and around the world, or promise a breakthrough in their field.

The national plan was first announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland in January.

The Digital Health Initiative will help promote innovation and the implementation of advanced solutions in Israeli healthcare organizations in an effort to improve medical treatment and healthcare services for patients and provide solutions to challenges faced by the healthcare system with solutions such as individualized medicine, preventative healthcare, tele-care, decision-support systems, digital medical devices, solutions for patient empowerment, and others, the ministries said in a statement.