The Silent Danger: The Crisis Worrying the Healthcare System

The Israeli Cleaning Companies Association warns of a shortage of about 45,000 cleaning workers, which could harm cleaning standards in hospitals and medical institutions and increase the risk of hospital-acquired infections. In a letter to the Ministry of Health, it is noted that 42% of the industry's workers are aged 56 and over. The association calls for the formulation of a national plan to address the shortage, including through expanding the employment of foreign workers.

The Israeli Cleaning Companies Association warns of a severe labor shortage in the cleaning industry, which could harm the ability of hospitals, nursing homes, and medical institutions to maintain required cleaning standards. In a letter sent to the Ministry of Health, it is stated that about 45,000 cleaning workers are currently missing, and about 42% of the industry's workers are aged 56 and over. The warning comes against the backdrop of Ministry of Health data, according to which about 1,100 patients were diagnosed with hospital-acquired infections in the past year. The association emphasizes that professional cleaning is a central tool for preventing infections and points to a report by the National Program for Infection Prevention, according to which in 2025 about 1,319 deaths and about 4,668 cases of infection with resistant bacteria were prevented. The association's chairman, Avi Mizrahi, calls for the formulation of a national plan to address the shortage, including through expanding the employment of foreign workers, and warns that without a fundamental solution, it will be difficult to maintain the required level of cleanliness and safety.