Sheba director Kreiss named acting Health Ministry DG

Health Minister Chaim Katz has asked Prof. Yitzhak Kreiss, director of the Sheba Medical Center, to take on the role of acting director-general of the Health Ministry while continuing to lead Sheba. The temporary appointment follows the announcement by the current director-general, Moshe Bar Siman-Tov, that he will step down from the position.

Bar Siman-Tov informed Minister Katz this week of his decision to leave the post in the coming weeks, after a total of nine years as Health Ministry director-general across two terms. During his tenure, he led the system through the coronavirus pandemic and the Iron Swords war.

The Health Ministry said in a statement that "in these complex days, when the State of Israel is facing many challenges on all fronts, the health system needs an anchor of stability, professionalism and security for the citizens of Israel."

Prof. Kreiss, a reserve colonel, served as the IDF's chief medical officer and has led the Sheba Medical Center for the past decade. According to the announcement, he brings decades of command, managerial and systemic experience and a deep familiarity with the challenges facing the health system. Under his leadership, Sheba has achieved exceptional results and a leading position in the international medical arena.

The Health Ministry said that "his experience and managerial abilities make him the right person to ensure the stability and continuity required at the Health Ministry during this period."

Out of a sense of responsibility and national mission, Prof. Kreiss agreed to the health minister's request. He will enter the role on a temporary basis when the current director-general's term ends at the end of the month, and will fill it alongside his continued service as director of the Sheba Medical Center.