Bill Would Require Doctors to Work Until Age 70

MK Rachel Adato, chairperson of the Knesset Health Lobby, on Sunday filed a bill for approval that would postpone the official retirement age for doctors to age 70. The bill is also sponsored by MK Haim Katz, chairperson of the Knesset Health Committee. The bill would require doctors working in health funds and government-sponsored hospitals to continue working to age 70. Only after that age will they be allowed to withdraw pensions and receive state retiree benefits. Doctors who work in management positions who leave their jobs at the standard requirement age of 65 will go back to practicing medicine until age 70.

The bill comes to address a severe shortage of doctors in health funds and public hospitals, the MKs said. The bill will be considered by various Knesset committees before coming up for a vote within the the next month or so.