Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Khalid Al-Mirghalani told Arab News that the appointment orders were issued by Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah for the implementation of the second phase of the Saudization program to employ 4,000 graduates in accordance with a circular issued by the Interior Ministry.
During the first phase last week, the ministry recruited 935 health graduates with specializations in fields as radiology, nutrition, physiotherapy and anesthesia and laboratory work.
The Interior Ministry had earlier issued a circular to all ministries to provide job opportunities for Saudis according to a directive from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
The new appointments covered graduates and diploma holders in nursing and others who are specialized in handling of medical apparatus and patients' records, ophthalmic epidemiology, midwifery and medical secretarial work.
The spokesman said these diploma holders had followed professional training in the respective fields of studies according to the specifications of the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties.
Al-Mirghalani said the ministry released the list of new recruits on Tuesday and their placement would be worked out in the coming weeks.
The new recruits will be required to attend an orientation program before they take up their respective positions in the health sector. The program will help the graduates to fit into their new workplaces, he noted.
The spokesman said the new appointees would be on a probation period of one year and that they were not expected to apply for transfers during this period.
The spokesman said the third phase of the program would be announced in the coming weeks.
Al-Mirghalani said these young graduates got their diplomas in various health disciplines on completion of their secondary education in high schools. “Most of these graduates have expressed their willingness to work in various hospitals and clinics that function under the Health Ministry,” he said, adding that the salaries and conditions offered by the ministry satisfied the youths.
