Eligibility for the Israeli liver-transplant list requires permanent residency or Israeli citizenship, confirmed medical necessity due to end-stage liver disease, and a psychiatric evaluation. The National Transplant Center manages the list, prioritizing patients based on MELD scores, donor card status, and first-degree relative donation history.
- Residency status: Candidates must be Israeli residents or citizens with valid health insurance coverage.
- Medical necessity: Entry requires a specialist referral documenting cirrhosis, acute failure, or hepatocellular carcinoma.
- Clinical fitness: Patients must be free from active infections, specific cancers, or severe comorbidities.
- Sobriety window: Alcohol-related cases typically require a documented 6-month period of complete sobriety.
- Priority status: Priority is granted to Adi donor card holders and previous living donors.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli medical centers like Sourasky and Hadassah maintain high success rates by utilizing a specialized prioritization system. While some international patients pay out-of-pocket, the highest survival outcomes are linked to surgeons like Dr. Lubezky Nir, who manages complex HPB cases. Our data shows that securing a living donor typically bypasses the standard 12-to-24 month wait for deceased organs.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize that meeting the 6-month sobriety requirement is non-negotiable for listing. Many recommend exploring living donor options early because deceased donor shortages can lead to extended wait times.