Industry calls for more specialist training programmes to address lack of local medical talent

Reports suggest that the GCC is unable to produce a sufficient number of clinical staff to provide health-care for its population, meaning that up to 80 percent of physicians in some countries are from outside of the region as the number of new medical graduates does not match the growth of the GCC population. This is in line with the recent U.A.E. Ministerial Cabinet meeting that called for improving the efficiency and competence of the healthcare staff. Without the right staff, the best equipment can stand unused and the most up-to-date techniques may not necessarily be in full practice. This is particularly the case in the GCC, where there are physicians trained in well over 50 different countries leading to inconsistencies across the region. Over the next 20 years, treatment demand will rise in the GCC by 240 percent; in particular, cardiovascular disease will increase by 419 percent, and diabetes-related ailments by 323 percent. Dr. Amer Ahmad Sharif, Managing Director, Dubai Healthcare City - Education, who is responsible for medical education projects, clinical training and research, said, "Analysing demand and planning capacity and identifying tools to increase specialisation are key to ensuring continual specialist medical services in the region. Effective approaches include CME post-graduate specialisation programmes and simulation-based training for medical staff from health authorities and academic institutions. "At a policy level, career advancement opportunities should be implemented to increase specialisation. To produce high-calibre, competent medical specialists, maintenance of existing skills and development of new skills should be encouraged," he continued. Mortiz Hartmann, General Manager of Roche Diagnostics Middle East, said, "Behind every successful business are the individuals working to drive its progress. At Roche Diagnostics Middle East, we have been invested in the continuous education of our staff in order for them to grow, meet our customers' needs, and become better every day." The topic will be discussed further at the Leaders in Healthcare panel session at Arab Health Exhibition and Congress from 27th-30th January at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, covering some of the techniques and methodologies used around the world for maintaining the right staffing ratio, and ways in which it is possible to avoid having shortages at critical junctures. The panel session will include Dr. Julia Sperling, Partner, McKinsey and Co; Dr. Amer Sharif, MBBS MSc, Managing Director - Education, Dubai Healthcare City; Dr. Ayesha Abdullah, Managing Director, Science Cluster - DHCC, Dubiotech and ENPARK; Moritz Hartmann, General Manager, Roche Diagnostics ME, and Tim Jones, Executive Director of Delivery, University Hospitals Birmingham, UK.