Hadassah Medical Center opens new immunology center as Israel's allergic population grows

Chief of the center's staff, Professor Yuval Tal, explained that in addition to allergy treatment, the center is designed to diagnose and treat other immune diseases as well.

Hadassah Medical Center opened a new center for clinical immunology and allergies with a team of about 12 clinical immunologists in order to meet Israel's growing demand, as Israelis face wait times of up to four years to receive desensitization treatment from other clinics. 

The center, established with the support of donors Moshe and Abbie Greenberg, is designed to provide a comprehensive response to immune system diseases, with an emphasis on the developing field of allergy in Israel and around the world. It includes a dedicated children's department, advanced treatment rooms, new laboratories, and infrastructure that enable treatment for a wide range of immune system diseases. 

In the greater Jerusalem area alone, about 250,000 people have been diagnosed with food allergies, according to Hadassah, and other clinics in Israel have wait times for advanced immunotherapy treatments that can last years. 

Chairman of the Israel Association of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Professor Yuval Tal, explained that in addition to allergy treatment, the center is designed to diagnose and treat other immune diseases as well.

"The field of allergy is constantly developing, expanding, and taking on new meanings all the time, but it is important to understand that this is only part of the wider world of immunology, and we offer treatments in every aspect of the field, including the Phadia 250 Laboratory System, which will make it possible to significantly expand diagnostic capabilities in the field," Tal said. 

Treatment changes children's lives, donor says

At the opening ceremony, Moshe Greenberg explained that he was inspired by the children dealing with difficult and complex medical conditions.

"The children are my inspiration. Although they are not my own children, the treatment has changed their lives and the lives of their families. These heroes, who have dealt with various medical conditions, are definitely a justified reason to donate to the expansion of the allergy and clinical immunology complex, especially at Hadassah," he said.