RIYADH: Over 6,000 health workers, including doctors, nurses and paramedics, have been recruited from Great Britain, Ireland, Nigeria, Azerbaijan and South Africa to work in the Ministry of Health (MoH).
“These personnel... possess good track records in their relevant fields in their respective countries,” said Dr. Mohammed Hashim, assistant deputy minister of health for strategy and development. He added that this is the first time that the Ministry of Health has employed such a large number of health workers, adding that the recruitment drive has been undertaken to fulfill the Kingdom’s growing demands.
He added that 3,000 health workers, including 1,000 doctors and 2,000 nurses, have already been posted to various hospitals throughout the Kingdom. “The remaining 1,600 doctors and 2,600 nurses will be arriving soon in the Kingdom to take up their positions at hospitals and clinics,” he said.
Dr. Hashim said that Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah set up a special committee to screen applicants before their appointment. “The ministry has been particularly keen to appoint suitable persons to maintain international health standards in hospitals and clinics,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health is making arrangements to host, on Wednesday, the first international gathering of heads of scientific societies.
The forum, which is to be held at Riyadh’s Marriott Hotel, will focus on the role of societies in training health officials to disseminate health messages to members of the public.
