Israeli doctor about allergies and medicine in Israel and the USA

Benjamin Davidzon. Photo: Pavel Terekhov

Israeli medicine is considered to be one of the best in the world and has long competed even with American. ForumDaily spoke in New York with the Israeli “aybolit”, Benjamin Davidzon.

What are the features of the Israeli medical system?

The main advantage of the Israeli medical system is that we do not have bad hospitals. True, no. All hospitals in our country are quite good. In most countries of the world, good modern medical centers are located in capitals and big cities, while the level of medicine in the periphery often remains mediocre. Israel is a very small country and we don't have many hospitals, but they are all well equipped and equipped. Therefore, wherever you are in Israel, you can always count on a high level of medical care. All our doctors undergo excellent professional training and undergo internships in various countries around the world. We really try hard to do the best job we can, I think that's why we've managed to get such a reputation.

You are familiar with the US medical system firsthand - here you first interned, then taught, and now you continue to actively communicate and exchange experiences with your American colleagues. Is it possible to compare medicine in the USA and in Israel?

I can definitely say that there are clinics in the USA that are the best in the world. For example, the John Hopkins Hospital or Memorial Sloan-Kettering Center. Hospitals of this level are not in Israel and, probably, not anywhere else. But on the other hand, such a level of medicine, as in the above-mentioned clinics, unfortunately, remains inaccessible to the majority of the US population. The problem of American medicine is not in its quality, but in its availability for the entire population of the country.

And what can be called the problem of Israeli medicine?

If we compare the level of medicine in Israel and in other countries, then we have In Israel it is very high, but if we consider Israeli medicine separately, then, of course, we, like everyone else, have our own problems and shortcomings. One of the problems is queues, the waiting time for an appointment with a doctor or for a procedure. Of course, the wait is not as long as in Canada, where the wait can take hours, but the problem exists.

Benjamin Davidzon. Photo: Pavel Terekhov

Can we say that Israel has become the main direction of medical tourism for Russian-speaking patients?

Do not forget that a huge number of Israelis speak Russian - in Israeli hospitals there are many Russian-speaking patients and Russian-speaking doctors. However, you are right that more and more often CIS citizens come to Israel for treatment - we have a high level of medicine, prices are lower than in Western Europe, in addition, the visa issue also plays in our favor.

A couple of decades ago, few people had heard about allergies to the same nuts. Today it has become so common a disease that in many schools children are forbidden to share food, because of possible allergies of classmates. What is the reason for this increase in the number of allergies?

I do not think that the number of cases of allergic reactions has increased greatly in recent times. I believe that lately the diagnostic possibilities of medicine and the general awareness of society have greatly changed. Allergic reactions have always been, tens of years ago they were also. But people knew less about them, therefore, there were fewer precautions.

What about autism, hyperactivity syndrome, lack of attention and similar diseases? Their number has undoubtedly increased in recent times. What is the reason?

Again, I believe that not the incidence, but the possibility of diagnosis has increased. A hundred years ago they did not make such a diagnosis as autism, but this does not mean that there was no such problem.

That is, you do not think that vaccination may be the cause of these diseases?

I consider vaccination the main and best achievement of mankind. I have no doubt about the benefits of vaccination.

If we have already started talking about such “hot” topics as vaccination, then let me know your opinion on vegetarianism. Is rejection of meat really beneficial for the human body?

I am not a vegetarian and do not see any reason to give up meat and dairy products. Nutrition should be varied and balanced. Any mono-diets and extreme cleanses are harmful to the body.

What would you, as a doctor, advise our readers?

It's hard for me to give advice. The only advice is to take care of your health. However, I would give advice to doctors - I am sure that among your readers there are many representatives of this profession. Do not forget about the human attitude towards the patient, because this is the most important thing. Treat not the heart or stomach separately, but the whole person. Don’t forget that behind all diagnoses and photographs lies someone’s fate, life and family.

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