Bikur Cholim Hospital

Bikur Cholim Hospital
Bikur Cholim Hospital in downtown Jerusalem
Geography
Location	West Jerusalem
Organisation
Care system	Non-profit
Type	District General
Affiliated university	Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Network	Shaare Zedek Medical Center
Services
Emergency department	yes
Beds	200
History
Opened	c. 1826
Closed	c. 2020

Bikur Cholim Hospital (Hebrew: בית החולים ביקור חולים) was a 200-bed general hospital in West Jerusalem, established in the 19th century^[1] and closed due to financial difficulties in the second decade of the 21st century. Until then, it was the oldest hospital in the country still operating.

Bikur Cholim had obstetrics and cardiac departments, a modern neonatal intensive care unit, a pediatrics department, and bariatric and plastic surgery units.^[2] After 2010 it treated some 60,000 patients annually. With 700 administrators, doctors, nurses, technicians and cleaners, it was one of Jerusalem's largest downtown employers. One-third of the doctors were Israeli Arabs, many of whom chose Bikur Holim for their residencies.^[3]

In December 2012 the hospital was taken over by Shaare Zedek Medical Center and continued to function as a branch of Shaare Zedek. The main hospital was then closed down, with the building on Haneviim (Prophets') Street, the maternity ward, which serves the residents of the nearby neighborhoods and various clinics, continuing to operate. At the same time, plans were submitted to the planning authorities for the restoration of the historic structure and its integration into a complex that includes commercial and housing areas. In 2020 the authorities have decided to also close the maternity ward, following guidelines which require such wards be located next to hospitals that can provide special medical services in case they are needed.