The Ministry of Health says that the number of foreign workers in the Kingdom’s health sector is expected to increase and that staff of Saudi nationality will remain a minority in the sector’s workforce.
A report from the ministry passed on to the Ministry of Economy and Planning detailed the forecasts and noted plans for the construction of 750 health centers and 15 hospitals with a total of 4,735 beds in the next five years.
It said that a major challenge was faced in the provision of competent staff for hospitals and health care facilities, and described the lack of local qualified workers as a “significant burden”.
“There are also plans to expand hospitals in all regions to accommodate around 9,123 beds,” the report said.
The ministry said that staff required included doctors, pharmacists, and technician specialists, and appealed to the Ministry of Economy and Planning to draw up development plans to help bridge the gap by working with the ministries of Education and Higher Education and private sector educational bodies to address as soon as possible the increasing demand for qualified health staff.
FALIH AL-DHIBYANI
Saudi Gazette