Special Message from Israel’s Deputy Health Minister

Author: M.K. Yakov Litzman

Published in: Summer 2018 Edition of Ambulance Today Magazine

M.K. Yakov Litzman, Deputy Minister of Health for Israel on Magom David Adom

Magen David Adom is Israel’s National EMS and Blood Services Organisation as declared in the 1950 MDA law. MDA started out from humble roots 88 years ago with a single ambulance-style response in Tel Aviv, and now, along with the State of Israel that has just celebrated its 70th Independence Day, MDA has a great deal of which to be proud. It is Israel’s National EMS Provider, both in times of peace and war, which has the responsibility of preparing and responding to all kinds of emergencies. It is also a leading educator of both the general public as well as a wide variety of health care professionals, and is Israel’s largest volunteer organisation.

MDA’s Paramedics and EMTs, who consist of more than 25,000 people, including all the first-responders’ organizations, are amongst the most highly trained and qualified in the world, providing professional and efficient pre-hospital emergency medical care to the millions of citizens in Israel, along with those visiting this special country.

Magen David Adom instils the value of volunteering starting with the very young and through to the very old. MDA’s volunteers are a major driving force, learning the importance of life-saving skills, providing them to the public and then teaching these skills to others. It is a never-ending chain of survival.

The State of Israel is proud that MDA is its representative both at home and abroad, having provided humanitarian aid at scenes of several natural disasters such as in Nepal or the Philippines and even in the USA. MDA has sent rescue teams to scenes of terror across the world too; both aiding local communities as well as repatriating Israelis back home. MDA has also provided Mass Casualty Incident training to many other organisations across the world and is recognised as a global leader on the subject.

Alongside the provision of emergency pre-hospital care, Magen David Adom collects, processes and provides almost all of Israel’s blood and blood components, potentially saving three lives with every unit of blood that is collected. In this way, many more members of the community become a vital link in saving the lives of others.

Magen David Adom is the pride of Israel – it is a showcase of its people, its technology and medical capabilities, and of its volunteer spirit. The Israeli Health Ministry appreciates and applauds Magen David Adom for all that it does to save lives, both here in Israel and across the world.

With high esteem,

Yours sincerely,

M.K. Yakov Litzman 

Deputy Minister of Health, Israel