About Us
Located in the city of Ashkelon, Israel, about 6 miles from the northern border of Gaza, Barzilai Medical Center is the front line hospital responsible for the medical care of many civilians and soldiers injured during conflicts in the area.
Aside from its’ unique position, Barzilai is a top-rated hospital which provides an array of outstanding inpatient and outpatient medical services to a population of over 580,000 citizens in a region defined as the periphery of Israel, including the cities of Ashkelon, Ashdod, Kiryat Malakhi, Kiryat Gat, Sderot and the area surrounding Gaza.
The hospital staff of over 2900 professionals and physicians, includes dedicated Jews, Arabs and Christians who work together to serve the enitre population of the south of Israel.
As the front line hospital just 6 miles from the Northern border of Gaza, Barzilai is charged with the unique and exceptional responsibility of providing vital emergency medical care to the many civilian victims and soldiers injured during missile attacks and conflicts in the Gaza region. Patients with both physical and emotional trauma are treated with care and compassion by skilled surgeons, physicians, nurses and therapists.
The medical center has also been the direct target of several missile attacks, and has emergency protocols in place to convert the hospital to a war-time facility within minutes. Neonatal infants, newborns and most critical patients are quickly and carefully transported to sheltered underground facilities for protection and care. The physicians and staff follow safety procedures and are committed to continuing to professionally and faithfully provide all necessary services for the well-being of the patients and residents and to bring hope and healing to all people in the south of Israel.
A Top Rated Hospital in Israel
Barzilai is a leader in national quality indicators and satisfaction:
In 2022, Barzilai’s Emergency Department was ranked #1 among all Israeli hospitals for patient satisfaction.
In 2022, Barzilai ranked #2 among hospitals in Israel for national quality indicators.
In 2022, Barzilai’s Administrative Director, Tzachi Cohen, was voted #1 in all of Israel for hospital administration.
In 2023, Barzilai was designated a future Level 1 Trauma Center and “Supercenter,” which will provide comprehensive specialized care and eliminate the need for patients to travel farther north for more delicate surgeries. The hospital has begun developing plans for additional neurosurgery and cardiac surgery units and facilities to accomodate all the medical needs of patients.Â
Hospitals/Universities
Barzilai’s staff includes over 2200 professionals and 400 physicians, many of whom are widely respected and recognized as leading experts in their fields .
Barzilai is a University Hospital, affiliated with the Faculty of Health Sciences of Ben Gurion University in Be’er Sheva, training medical students, nurses and paramedics.
Barzilai has an academic nursing school, also affliliated with the faculty in Be’er Sheva, providing clinical fieldwork and internships to nurses and paramedics from the academic college in Ashkelon.
Barzilai recently partnered with St. Francis Hospital in New York to
Prof. Dr. Chezy Levy
CEO and Medical Director, Barzilai Medical Center
Professor Dr. Chezy Levy is a retired IDF Brigadier General. In the First Lebanon War, Dr. Levy was a Nahal infantry brigade physician, and personally treated the most serious case of injury by ‘friendly fire’ in the history of the IDF. During the withdrawal from Lebanon, he was the medical commander of the North Command. In the Second Lebanon War he served as Chief Medical Officer of the IDF.
Dr. Levy joined Barzilai Medical Center as their Medical Director in 2011. In 2020, Dr. Levy took a leave from Barzilai to serve as Director General of Israel’s Health Ministry and oversaw Israel’s national COVID pandemic response. In 2021, he returned to his previous position as Medical Director of Barzilai Medical Center, which he continues to hold.
Medical Director Statement
Prof. Chezy levy / C.E.O. and Medical Director
The Barzilai Medical Center
The Barzilai Medical Center
Medical and Administrative Management
Medical and Administrative Management
Nursing Management
Nursing Management
Public Affairs
Public Affairs
Committees and Units
Committees and Units
Barzilai Medical Center’s Vision & Goals
A public health center that provides quality health services to all
