The Ministry of Health has confirmed that the contracts it signed recently with Canadian health staff falls within its efforts to boost quality of health services offered in its hospitals.

Dr. Khalid Marghalani, the ministry spokesman, justified this controversial step saying the Health Ministry is not the only government body that recruits foreign workers. He said the Saudization ratio among nursing staff in the hospitals of the ministry increased to 58 percent.

Marghalani said the MoH has been dependent on Arab, Asian, African and American health workers to strengthen the services it offers to citizens and residents across the Kingdom.

He said achieving their goal of better services requires recruiting highly qualified manpower.

Speaking to local media, Marghalani said: "The Ministry of Health is very keen to attract holders of specialized bachelor degrees and above from any country in the world where such qualified manpower exists in accordance with the needs and the qualifications defined."

The number of nursing personnel working at the hospitals of the ministry stands at 83,862 people, with a Saudization ratio rising to approximately 58 percent as a result of the intensive training and employment programs as well as giving employment opportunities to more graduates of different health specialties, according to him.

He said employment in the health field, for both technical or nursing jobs, is done through the Ministry of Civil Service.

The ministry confirmed earlier that it is working to recruit health professionals from outside the Kingdom where particular specialties are not available amongst Saudi's.

Nonetheless, the ministry stressed the fact that priority for employment is among Saudi competencies, doctors and nurses, and added hat it is very keen to pursue Saudization.

Many citizens expressed resentment toward the ministry's move to recruit health workers from outside the Kingdom, because large numbers of graduates from health colleges and institutes are still awaiting employment in the Kingdom's hospitals.