Researchers: Rachel Nissanholtz-Gannot¹, Itay Gur-Arye², Ophir Morag²

Background: Pain medicine focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of pain, which is defined as a “disease” when it persists for more than three months. Chronic pain significantly impacts patients’ physical, emotional, and social well-being, and constitutes a major personal and economic burden. Access to pain treatment has been recognized as a basic human right.

Objectives: To examine and describe the current state of pain medicine services in Israel, and to provide a comprehensive understanding of the major challenges in this field, with the aim of offering relevant solutions and strategies for improvement.

Method: This mixed-methods study included a review of academic and grey literature; in-depth interviews with policymakers, leading providers, and patients in Israel and abroad; focus groups with patients; and a survey among pain medicine specialists in Israel.

Findings: The study revealed substantial challenges in pain care, including long wait times and limited access to services, especially in peripheral regions, a shortage of specialists, and high levels of burnout among medical teams. Additional issues included difficulties in diagnosis and bureaucratic barriers. The use of opioids and medical cannabis was described as a “pandemic” and a systemic challenge. Patients emphasized the need for attentive and empathetic care, while the physician survey highlighted the need for longer treatment sessions.

Conclusions: Challenges in pain care in Israel mirror those seen globally—specialist shortages, limited appointment availability, and regional disparities. There is a need to expand the roles of additional healthcare professionals and to strengthen multidisciplinary approaches.

Recommendations: Increase and train the workforce (e.g., clinical nurse specialists, family physicians), develop a tiered referral system based on pain severity, improve accessibility in peripheral areas, and raise public and professional awareness of the field of pain medicine.

Research end date: 06/2025