GCC healthcare sector growth faces staff shortage challenge

Abu Dhabi / Emirates Business

The outlook for the healthcare sector remains bright with experts forecasting investments to reach $133 billion by 2018, which will mostly be poured into building new healthcare facilities.
“However, many challenges need to be addressed, notably the shortage of healthcare staff which is why we’ve organised this event to provide companies and healthcare professionals an opportunity to come together in one place and find out what opportunities are available, while also learning from experts through a series of masterclasses that offer certifications that can be used for professional advancement,” says Simon Page, Managing Director, Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions, which has organised the Healthcare Recruitment and Training Fair, the only event of its kind in the GCC, to help fast-track the recruitment process. The show is ongoing until October 24 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).
There are about 48 nurses per 1,000 people in the GCC, compared to 115 in Germany and Japan. “With the expected addition of 22,500 beds, more than a thousand nurses will be needed to fill the gap; and there are many more non-clinical jobs that are also available,” Page adds.
The Healthcare Recruitment and Training Fair hosts over 100 recruiting companies who are ready to receive applications, hold face-to-face interviews and possibly hire on-the-post qualified candidates (for both clinical and non-clinical positions) stakeholders seeking to recruit the best healthcare professionals.
“Participating in this event has given us access to thousands of professionals who are looking for career opportunities in the healthcare sector. As one of the biggest employers of healthcare staff in this part of the world, the fair sees the participation of India, KSA and UAE, Kuwait. Oman and Qatar, we have hundreds of positions available that we can readily fill once we find the right candidates at this event,” says Alungal Mohammed, President, Abeer Medical Group.
Meanwhile, Zulekha Hospital, one of the fastest growing healthcare networks in the UAE, has also been actively recruiting healthcare professionals, in particular ICU and critical care nurses, for its ongoing expansion plans. “We are currently developing a state-of-the-art cancer unit in Dubai. This new facility will include a 100-bed in-patient room, ICU rooms, a modern dialysis service and a sleep lab. The extension will allow us to provide specialist cancer care services and we are looking for professionals to work for this new facility,” says Vijaya Sen, Director – Human Resources, Zulekha Hospital, which also participated in Healthcare Recruitment & Training Fair UK.
More than 8,000 healthcare professionals are expected to attend the event; not just to seek new career opportunities, but also to enhance their current professional standing through a series of CME accredited conferences and masterclasses conducted by internationally renowned experts. Training topics will cover both clinical and non-clinical fields. Healthcare professionals seeking employment and professional enhancement opportunities are encouraged to visit the fair, which is free to attend.