Public Policy for Regulating the Congestion in Delivery Rooms in Israel: Alternatives, Consequences, and Recommendations

The growing congestion in delivery rooms in Israeli hospitals is the underlying issue of the current study. Aim: The study sought to examine various alternatives for public policy aimed at reducing congestion. The choice of Israel as a case study derives from its conspicuous imbalance between supply...

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Main Author: Erez Cohen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Societies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/15/2/47
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author Erez Cohen
author_facet Erez Cohen
author_sort Erez Cohen
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description The growing congestion in delivery rooms in Israeli hospitals is the underlying issue of the current study. Aim: The study sought to examine various alternatives for public policy aimed at reducing congestion. The choice of Israel as a case study derives from its conspicuous imbalance between supply and demand in the maternity, resulting from the high demand for prenatal and birthing services on one hand and the low supply, both in absolute terms and relative to OECD countries, of medical resources such as physicians, nurses, and hospital beds. The research combines quantitative research that includes analysis of data related to human resources and hospital beds in Israel compared to other countries on one hand and data on productivity and childbirth in Israel on the other, and qualitative research that includes examination of the different alternatives to hospital-based birth. The research findings present fertility and birth data for Israel in the last decade, which are leading to increased congestion and crowding in delivery rooms and maternity wards at local hospitals. Discussion: Two possible alternatives are proposed for designing and implementing public policy capable of contributing to the regulation of this congestion. One is the home birth, and the second is private birthing centers. The research conclusions indicate that policymakers in Israel must anticipate the increasing congestion in hospital delivery rooms and maternity wards and expedite efforts at designing alternative solutions before the emergence of a crisis situation that will make it essential to identify immediate solutions.
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spelling doaj-art-7974781b327b49f686a38dde53aa6d0e2025-08-20T02:44:36ZengMDPI AGSocieties2075-46982025-02-011524710.3390/soc15020047Public Policy for Regulating the Congestion in Delivery Rooms in Israel: Alternatives, Consequences, and RecommendationsErez Cohen0Department of Middle Eastern Studies and Political Science, Ariel University, Ariel 40700, IsraelThe growing congestion in delivery rooms in Israeli hospitals is the underlying issue of the current study. Aim: The study sought to examine various alternatives for public policy aimed at reducing congestion. The choice of Israel as a case study derives from its conspicuous imbalance between supply and demand in the maternity, resulting from the high demand for prenatal and birthing services on one hand and the low supply, both in absolute terms and relative to OECD countries, of medical resources such as physicians, nurses, and hospital beds. The research combines quantitative research that includes analysis of data related to human resources and hospital beds in Israel compared to other countries on one hand and data on productivity and childbirth in Israel on the other, and qualitative research that includes examination of the different alternatives to hospital-based birth. The research findings present fertility and birth data for Israel in the last decade, which are leading to increased congestion and crowding in delivery rooms and maternity wards at local hospitals. Discussion: Two possible alternatives are proposed for designing and implementing public policy capable of contributing to the regulation of this congestion. One is the home birth, and the second is private birthing centers. The research conclusions indicate that policymakers in Israel must anticipate the increasing congestion in hospital delivery rooms and maternity wards and expedite efforts at designing alternative solutions before the emergence of a crisis situation that will make it essential to identify immediate solutions.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/15/2/47public policyhome birthhospital birthdelivery roomsmaternity wardscongestion
spellingShingle Erez Cohen
Public Policy for Regulating the Congestion in Delivery Rooms in Israel: Alternatives, Consequences, and Recommendations
Societies
public policy
home birth
hospital birth
delivery rooms
maternity wards
congestion
title Public Policy for Regulating the Congestion in Delivery Rooms in Israel: Alternatives, Consequences, and Recommendations
title_full Public Policy for Regulating the Congestion in Delivery Rooms in Israel: Alternatives, Consequences, and Recommendations
title_fullStr Public Policy for Regulating the Congestion in Delivery Rooms in Israel: Alternatives, Consequences, and Recommendations
title_full_unstemmed Public Policy for Regulating the Congestion in Delivery Rooms in Israel: Alternatives, Consequences, and Recommendations
title_short Public Policy for Regulating the Congestion in Delivery Rooms in Israel: Alternatives, Consequences, and Recommendations
title_sort public policy for regulating the congestion in delivery rooms in israel alternatives consequences and recommendations
topic public policy
home birth
hospital birth
delivery rooms
maternity wards
congestion
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/15/2/47
work_keys_str_mv AT erezcohen publicpolicyforregulatingthecongestionindeliveryroomsinisraelalternativesconsequencesandrecommendations