Number of graduates should match Saudi Arabia’s need for doctors

Health Minister Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah.

RIYADH: Experts at a medical conference held in Riyadh discussed ways to boost the health sector in the Kingdom.
They expressed satisfaction over the current status of the sector but called for increased coordination between all relevant bodies to achieve better results.
Saudi Health Minister Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah commended the efforts of the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCHS) in improving the performance of health practitioners in the Kingdom.
He said that his ministry was working on different initiatives to further boost the competency of health professionals.
The health minister also spoke about his ministry’s 10-year plan at the Medical Work Force Conference organized by the SCHS.
“The commission has made tremendous efforts in conducting workshops to discuss the Saudi medical workforce status,” Al-Rabiah said.
The secretary-general of the SCHS, Dr. Ayman bin Asaad Abdah, pointed out the Kingdom foresees a great leap forward in the medical field, where the human factor will play the main role in its success.
He highlighted the importance of concerted efforts by all stakeholders to achieve the goals of the ministry.
The conference discussed bachelor’s degree programs in relation to the needs of the labor market in the next 10 years, the job opportunities available to fresh graduates and the chances to move on to specialty higher studies programs within and outside the Kingdom.
The SCHS outlined the conference’s recommendations in its conclusive study of the workforce of the five medical fields: General medicine and surgery, dental medicine and dental surgery, pharmacy, applied medical sciences, and nursing.
The participants pointed out the importance of creating incentives for those administering the higher-studies programs’ training, in addition to reinforcing the role of the Educational Central Evaluation Authority in its regular follow-up and reform of the medical faculties’ performance, and taking corrective measures to ensure performance improvement.
A national committee would need to coordinate between universities and health organizations working in the public and private sectors in the Kingdom, to identify the real needs of the labor market, said experts.