1 signatures
Petition is addressed to: CEOs / IT Directors of the major health funds: (Maccabi Healthcare Services Clalit Health Services Meuhedet Health Services Leumit Health Services), Ministry of Health (Misrad HaBriut)
Petition: Fair Language Access in Israeli Health Apps
To:
- The Ministry of Health (Misrad HaBriut)
- Maccabi Health Services, Clalit, Meuhedet, and Leumit (Kupot Holim)
The Issue
For years, members of Israel’s health system have raised concerns that the official health apps of Israel’s leading health funds (kupot holim) are not accessible in English. Despite thousands of complaints in app store reviews and customer feedback, the apps remain almost exclusively in Hebrew.
This lack of accessibility:
- Creates barriers for immigrants (olim) who rely on the health system but are still learning Hebrew.
- Endangers patients, who may misunderstand critical medical information such as test results, prescriptions, or urgent appointments.
- Causes frustration and excludes large portions of the population—including international students, temporary workers, and tourists who need medical care while in Israel.
Why This Matters
Health care is a basic human right. In a nation that welcomes immigrants from over 80 countries, language should never be a barrier to treatment. English is an international standard language of communication, and offering apps in English is not a luxury—it is a necessity.
Even the app reviews in the Apple Store and Google Play Store show consistent frustration from users begging for an English version for years. People have written that it feels like they “don’t exist in the system” or that they “can’t safely use the app” due to the lack of translation.
What We Demand
We, the undersigned, call upon Israel’s Ministry of Health and the four main health funds to:
- Provide full English translation of their apps, including test results, appointment booking, and digital records.
- Ensure that all future updates and new features include English support from the beginning.
- Commit to a timeline for implementation within the next 12 months.
Our Vision
Israel prides itself on being a light to the nations. True light includes compassion, fairness, and accessibility. By making health apps available in English, Israel can set a standard of inclusion, protect patient safety, and uphold the dignity of every resident and visitor.
📢 We urge the Ministry of Health and the health funds to act now.
Reason
Why This Petition Matters
- 1 in 4 Israelis struggles to read or write in Hebrew.
- Government policy already requires health content in Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, and English—yet major health apps still exclude English.
- Immigrants, tourists, and non-Hebrew speakers report being unable to book appointments, read test results, or use urgent care features.
- This digital barrier puts lives at risk and leaves thousands of residents excluded from basic healthcare access.
We are calling on Israel’s health funds to add full English support to their apps—so healthcare is accessible, safe, and inclusive for everyone.
Petition details
Petition started:
08/19/2025
Collection ends:
02/18/2026
Region:
Israel
Topic:
Health
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I’m new in Israel and must have health insurance. I pay for the best insurance available with Macabee. I downloaded both apps and I can’t read either of them. I checked the App Store and it looks like people have been complaining about the lack of English for years and nothing has been done about it’s it really does hinder me a lot.