As the Ministry of Health adheres to the replacement policy prescribed by Civil Service Bureau Resolution 11/2017 within various occupational categories, data highlights the gradual pace of localization of medical positions, particularly those of doctors. Challenges in this regard seem to present formidable obstacles in the foreseeable future.
In an attempt to increase reliance on domestic medical talent, sources within the healthcare sector disclosed to Al-Rai daily that the Ministry of Health has adopted several strategies aimed at curbing the recruitment of foreign doctors.
These include a substantial expansion of the intake of doctors across diverse specialties, surpassing previous years by more than 50 percent and even reaching up to 200 percent in certain programs.
Additionally, recognition is given to holders of the initial portion of the Kuwaiti and Saudi boards, equivalent to those with master’s and diploma degrees.
Furthermore, British fellowship certifications are now considered for promotions among Kuwaiti doctors, including those with Kuwaiti mothers, as well as former bedoun who obtained these certificates prior to Ministerial Decision 306/2018 for direct recruitment of doctors from the offspring of Kuwaiti women and the ongoing enhancement of doctors’ rights and work environment are also pursued.
Despite these efforts to harness national resources optimally, statistics suggest that the re-localization of doctors remains a complex challenge with elusive solutions in the short term.
The current landscape entails there are approximately 6,000 non-Kuwaiti doctors in the public sector, compared to about 4,000 Kuwaiti counterparts. The disparity widens significantly in the private health sector, wherein around 500 Kuwaiti doctors serve in contrast to more than 3,500 non-Kuwaitis.
While the demand for non-Kuwaiti doctors within the government sector might lessen with the imminent launch of the Health Insurance Company’s hospitals and the transfer of a segment of nearly two million residents, this doesn’t signify a complete discontinuation of contracts with foreign doctors. Specialized services will still be extended to this segment within the Ministry facilities.
However, the persistent need for foreign doctors arises from the limited number of Kuwaiti graduates compared to the expansive healthcare services required. This is further compounded by the inauguration of new health projects and the forthcoming delivery of others.
Additionally, shortages in certain medical specialties, especially rare ones, remain a challenge. Recognizing these complexities, and in view of global predictions indicating a shortage of around 10 million healthcare workers by 2030, the list of job groups targeted for Kuwaitization under the Civil Service Bureau Resolution 11/2017 excludes technical roles within the medical sector.
Addressing potential shortages arising from doctors’ resignations, the Ministry pursues strategies such as ongoing appointments from local cadres, recruitment from abroad, the activation of the LOCUM program to attract doctors, and memoranda of understanding with various countries to ensure an adequate and proportional workforce.
Contrasting the difficulties in relocating doctors within the public sector, the sources contend that the demand for foreign doctors will continue to surge within the private health sector.
The expansion of facilities, financial incentives, specialization services, and a declining proportion of national doctor cadres (amounting to around 13 percent) all contribute to this trend. Despite some contribution from domestic doctors through part-time evening shifts, it is deemed insufficient to meet the requirements, thus extending the timeline for the Kuwaitization of doctors within the private sector to decades.
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