Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov)
Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov)
Israel, Tel Aviv
Michael Shapira
36 years of experience
Clinic is certified :
Transplantology in Israel typically costs from $192,000 to $343,300. Final expenses depend on the type of organ or tissue, donor compatibility, and the patient's age. Israel offers high success rates with savings of approximately 35-60% compared to the United States, making it a key destination for specialized cell therapies and living donor procedures.
Typical Transplantology Costs in Israel
Most transplant procedures are performed in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, where world-class medical centers are concentrated. While costs are generally consistent across the country's major hubs, you should consult with a specialist to get accurate pricing and legal guidance for your specific case.
| Israel | Turkey | Austria | |
| Lung transplant | from $190,000 | from $180,000 | from $350,000 |
| Liver transplant | from $165,000 | from $45,000 | from $320,000 |
| Kidney transplant | from $95,000 | from $18,000 | from $95,000 |
| Heart transplant | from $175,000 | from $175,000 | from $500,000 |
| Heart and lungs transplant | from $295,000 | from $250,000 | from $600,000 |
No hidden fees – just official clinic prices. Pay at the clinic for Transplantology treatment upon arrival and use a flexible installment plan if needed.
Bookimed is committed to your safety. We only work with medical institutions that maintain high international standards in Transplantology treatment and have the necessary licenses to serve international patients worldwide.
Bookimed offers free expert assistance. A personal medical coordinator supports you before, during, and after your treatment, solving any issues. You're never alone on your Transplantology treatment journey.
Prof. Amos Toren, MD, PhD, MHA, is a pediatric hemato-oncologist and BMT specialist. He served as Director of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology and BMT at Sheba Medical Center.
He is board certified in Pediatrics, Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplantation. He holds a PhD in Human Genetics. He was Head of the Hematology Division at Tel Aviv University for two terms. He is a member of ASH, COG, ESPHI, EBMT, and CIBMTR. He also serves on the Ministry of Health Cord Blood Committee.
He led one of Israel’s most advanced pediatric oncology and BMT programs. The program treated children and young adults. His focus includes leukemia and lymphoma, immunodeficiencies, and rare cancers. He specializes in BMT and CAR T-cell therapy.
His translational research covers CAR T cells, cytokine-induced killer cells, pediatric brain tumors, and targeted therapies. He has worked with St. Anna, the NIH, and St. Jude. His publications include studies on pediatric SCT prophylaxis and PARP resistance.
Dr. Hana Golan, MD, heads the Pediatric Hemato-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT) Division at Sheba Medical Center. She specializes in childhood cancers, with a focus on neuroblastoma and other high-risk solid tumors.
She leads one of the region’s most advanced pediatric oncology programs. She manages complex, high-risk cases and practices at a hospital ranked in the global top 10.
She is the principal investigator of the High-Risk Neuroblastoma ESIOP protocol. She serves as an investigator in international Phase I/II trials and as the national coordinator of multicenter oncology protocols. She led the development of computerized chemotherapy protocols and patient databases to improve safety.
She earned her MD from the Technion. She completed residencies in pediatrics and pediatric hemato-oncology at Sheba. She conducted advanced research in transplantation immunology at the Weizmann Institute. She is board-certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Hematology-Oncology. She is a Senior Lecturer at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University. Her research focuses on cancer stem cells, targeted therapies, treatment-resistant malignancies, and cannabinoid-related oncology.
Prof. Ido Nachmany heads the Second Surgical Department at Sheba Medical Center. He specializes in HPB and robotic surgery for diseases of the liver, pancreas, and bile ducts, and for gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors. He also performs adrenal, spleen, and stomach surgery. Forbes listed him among Israel’s top physicians.
He advances minimally invasive robotic and laparoscopic techniques. The aim is better precision and faster recovery.
Credentials: Senior Lecturer at Tel Aviv University. Member of ASTS and IHPBA. Completed HPB and abdominal transplant fellowships at the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute. Board certified in General Surgery (Israel), Abdominal Organ Transplantation (ASTS), and HPB Surgery (University of Pittsburgh). He has published in Cancer Research, the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, and the European Journal of Surgical Oncology.
Dr. Einat Shacham‑Shmueli is a senior medical oncologist at the Gastrointestinal Clinic, Cancer Center, Sheba Medical Center. She treats cancers of the colon, stomach, and pancreas. She also manages metastatic disease. She uses precision diagnostics and biomarkers, systemic therapies, and radiotherapy. Care is provided within a multidisciplinary team.
She has authored more than 25 peer‑reviewed papers on GI oncology, tumor biology, and new treatments. Her work includes studies on stenting for malignant colonic obstruction. She serves as an investigator in international programs, including the NCI, the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group, and the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program.
Education: MD, Tel Aviv University. Oncology residency, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center. Advanced training in GI oncology, UCSF. Accreditations: Board certified in Oncology and Gastroenterology. Member, Israel Society of Oncology and Radiotherapy.
Written by Veronika Kazina
Written by Veronika Kazina
Written by Ana Hurevska
International patients cannot practically receive organs from deceased donors in Israel due to severe legal restrictions. The 2008 Organ Transplant Law prioritizes citizens and residents. Foreigners are placed at the bottom of the national waiting list. This makes access to deceased donor organs nearly impossible for non-residents.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While deceased donation is restricted, Israel excels in complex living donor procedures. Data shows high success rates at facilities like Sourasky Medical Center, which treats 1,800,000 patients annually. For international cases, focusing on living kidney or liver donation with a compatible family member is the only viable path.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that hospital staff confirm ineligibility for deceased donor organs upfront. Many suggest exploring living donation or looking at other countries if a family donor is unavailable.
Israel reports some of the world's highest transplant success rates. Kidney transplant recipients see 90% to 95% 1-year survival. Leading centers like Sheba Medical Center and Hadassah Medical Center achieve these results through advanced HLA-typing and living-donor programs. Most procedures perform above global averages.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israel's unique point system for organ donors significantly reduces waiting lists. Data shows centers like Sheba and Sourasky handle massive volumes, with over 1,800,000 patients annually. This high frequency allows surgeons to refine techniques, leading to record-breaking months with over 50 successful transplants nationwide.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize choosing living-donor procedures whenever possible for superior outcomes. They also recommend verifying surgeon credentials through official health ministry records before the procedure.
Leading transplant centers in Israel include Hadassah Medical Center, Sourasky Medical Center, and Sheba Medical Center. These JCI-accredited institutions are recognized by Newsweek as the world's best hospitals. They specialize in complex kidney, liver, heart, and bone marrow transplantations for international patients.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli medical centers often consolidate expertise by appointing Forbes-ranked specialists to lead dedicated departments. For instance, Hadassah Medical Center features multiple doctors like Dr. Gal Goldstein and Dr. Polina Stepensky who are recognized as top specialists. This creates a high-density environment of peer-reviewed expertise within a single facility.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that organ matching can often happen faster in Israel than in Europe due to local donation laws. They emphasize the importance of securing second opinions and navigating the bilingual care system with the help of patient advocates.
Donor operations in Israel primarily utilize minimally invasive techniques like laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgery. These methods reduce recovery time for living donors of kidneys and livers. Surgeons use high-precision tools like the Da Vinci system to ensure safety and organ viability during the procedure.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli centers like Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) prioritize hybrid laparoscopic techniques. This approach balances surgical speed with minimal scarring. Our data shows liver donors return to activities twice as fast compared to traditional open surgery. Choosing clinics with Da Vinci technology often results in shorter hospital stays.
Patient Consensus: Donors often mention that small incisions and specialized pain management make the recovery much easier. Many feel reassured by the thorough pre-op testing like HLA-typing and DNA-tests.
English communication is standard across Israeli transplant facilities. Major centers like Sheba and Hadassah maintain dedicated international departments. Most transplant surgeons, including Prof. Michael Shapira at Sourasky Medical Center, are fluent. They often complete fellowships in the US or Europe.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Our data shows that top-rated clinics like Sheba and Sourasky handle massive patient volumes. Sheba treats 1.5 million patients yearly across 1,990 specialties. This high volume drives these centers to standardize English communication. It ensures safety for the thousands of international patients they serve.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that while surgeons are usually fluent, you should explicitly request English versions of discharge papers. Coordinating with the international office in advance helps avoid potential language friction with administrative staff.
Israel's Don't Give, Don't Get rule is a priority system for organ transplants established by the 2008 Organ Transplant Act. It grants preferential standing on waiting lists to registered donors. The policy applies when two patients have equal medical urgency for a transplant procedure.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli medical centers like Sheba and Sourasky manage massive patient volumes, often exceeding 1,500,000 annually. This high activity level makes the priority rule a critical tie-breaker. Because these centers perform tens of thousands of operations yearly, being in a higher priority tier can significantly impact wait times for stable patients.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that international travelers usually default to the lowest priority tier unless they can provide official donor registration documents. It is important to discuss your donor status with your treating physician early to understand how it affects your timeline.
Israeli hospitals accommodate religious needs through standardized services including kosher catering, prayer rooms, and Shabbat-compliant facilities. Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited centers like Sheba and Hadassah integrate spiritual values into transplant care. Facilities provide access to clergy and specialized dietary plans to support diverse patient backgrounds.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli transplant centers like Hadassah and Sheba Medical Center manage over 1,000,000 patients annually. This high volume makes religious accommodation a routine part of clinical flow. For example, medical teams are specifically trained in halacha, the Jewish law, to balance life-saving transplant procedures with religious observance.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that while Jewish customs are the default, staff readily provide halal food and prayer space for other faiths. Many recommend bringing personal items like a Bible or prayer rug to feel more at home.