Health Ministry Regulates Cooperation Between MDA and United Hatzalah | First Report

The Ministry of Health has issued a new director-general's circular regulating cooperation between Magen David Adom (MDA) and United Hatzalah, aiming to end disputes and duplication in dispatching emergency teams. The circular stipulates that dispatch will be based solely on professional considerations, integrates United Hatzalah volunteers into MDA's national dispatch center, and prohibits United Hatzalah from operating a separate emergency hotline. The change follows criticism by the State Comptroller.

The Ministry of Health has published a new director-general's circular comprehensively regulating cooperation between Magen David Adom (MDA) and United Hatzalah, aiming to end disputes, duplication in dispatching teams, and gaps that have emerged in recent years, including during the October 7 events, as criticized by State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman. The circular, which replaces guidelines from 2017, stipulates that dispatching emergency medical volunteers will be based solely on professional considerations – response time, distance, and training – regardless of organizational affiliation. This means that if a United Hatzalah volunteer is closer to the scene and appropriately trained, they will be dispatched like an MDA volunteer, and vice versa. One of the key changes is integrating United Hatzalah volunteers into MDA's national dispatch center. United Hatzalah will provide MDA with a list of approved volunteers, update it regularly, and declare twice a year compliance with requirements. Additionally, United Hatzalah will cease publishing its emergency hotline to the public, and calls will be directed to MDA's hotline. MDA will continue to manage the incident scene and is responsible for developing a joint app. The Ministry of Health will appoint a supervisory body, and MDA will provide monthly data. The circular will take effect about two months after development is completed, within six months, and after a nationwide pilot.