MoH recruits 2,323 foreign doctors

The Kingdom has hired 2,323 doctors from seven countries to ensure health care services accross the Kingdom, a senior official from the Ministry of Health announced yesterday.
Ministry spokesman Khalid Al-Mirghalani said that these doctors were recruited over the past three years from Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, the US, Britain, Sweden and Australia. The doctors are medical specialists, consultants and surgeons in rare specialties.
In 2009, 364 doctors were recruited, followed by 931 in 2010. In 2011, 599 medical personnel were recruited. Since the beginning of 2012 to date 429 doctors have been employed.
Al-Mirghalani pointed out that the objectives of the recruitment program are to meet demand for a certain category of doctors in some areas. It will also help patients find their doctors in their own respective areas without going for referrals.
He said the regions that have mostly benefited from the deployment of these doctors are Tabuk, Arar, Hofuf and other regions where their services are needed.