Israel Inaugurates New Emergency and Trauma Center in Kiryat Shmona

Emergency and Trauma Center in Kiryat Shmona @Clalit Spokesperson

As residents of northern Israel have been living for months under the continuous threat of rocket fire from Hezbollah, a new medical facility is significantly strengthening the healthcare response on the ground. The Israeli Ministry of Health, in partnership with the country’s largest health fund, Clalit Health Services, inaugurated an emergency and trauma center on Sunday in Kiryat Shmona, designed to provide immediate and life-saving care to populations exposed to ongoing danger.

This initiative is part of a coordinated national effort involving all of Israel’s health funds, with the goal of ensuring rapid and continuous access to medical care both in routine situations and during times of crisis. In a deteriorating security environment, where travel to hospitals can become difficult or even dangerous, proximity to medical care has become an absolute necessity.

Equipped with modern technology, the center includes on-site radiology services, a treatment room, and the capacity to perform immediate procedures such as suturing, wound care, and immobilization. It is staffed by specialist physicians, enabling rapid and effective treatment of emergency cases.

“In the current situation, accessing medical care has become a challenge. This center provides an accessible solution for all residents of the north, ensuring continuity of care while minimizing the need to travel outside the city,” explained Ronen Nudelman, Deputy Director and Head of the Community Division at Clalit Health Services.

Rafi Broom, Director of the Northern District at Clalit Health Services, echoed this view: “When access to hospitals becomes complicated due to distance or the security situation, the ability to receive immediate care close to home becomes essential — even vital.”

Beyond this trauma center, Clalit Health Services maintains an extensive network of protected medical services in Kiryat Shmona, including maternal and child health centers, oncology services, women’s clinics, family medicine practices, imaging services, a pharmacy, and dental care. All these services have been adapted to operate despite the constant security threats.

In a context marked by uncertainty and danger, this new infrastructure represents far more than a medical facility: it embodies a concrete commitment to protecting the lives of citizens even in times of war.

Caroline Haïat