If you’re a nurse, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) might be your next work destination. The shortage of healthcare in the nation has left the option of seeking foreign help.
This is thrilling to hear if you’re looking for a career in this area. If your dream is to be employed in a place with relentless sunshine and magnificent building projects of the modern-day, then the UAE is your place. From 2013 to 2017, the total number of healthcare workers in the UAE has almost doubled. This was because the country’s demand for high-quality care is steadily increasing.
Source: How do we strengthen the health workforce in a rapidly developing high-income country?
Not only is the need for healthcare professionals increasing, but there's a vast retention rate for these types of staff members in the UAE.
The UAE has meaningfully expanded its 10-year golden visa system to attract foreign medical providers and inspire them to stay longer.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said, “We want to keep those who are talented here so we can continue together with our journey of development and achievement.”
Source: UAE to expand 10-year golden visa system to all doctors
Here are 5 reasons why UAE needs more people in their healthcare workforce, mainly from foreign nations, and why working there might be a great idea.
Table of Contents
- Healthcare Trends Post COVID-19
- The Effect of Health Information Technology (HIT)
- Medical and Wellness Tourism
- High Demand for Quality Care Among Residents
- Privatization of Hospitals
- Key Ideas
Healthcare Trends Post COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the UAE's urgency in calling in the foreign healthcare workforce.
This year, healthcare spending is anticipated to go up pointedly in the UAE because the country insists on taking in more qualified doctors.
Remote monitoring and consultations have become the norm during the pandemic; thus, the UAE has amplified its financing on research and development (R&D) and innovation.
Source: COVID-19 Innovations in Healthcare Responds
- In 2021, a 3.4% rise in primary care expenses is estimated in the Middle East.
The Effect of Health Information Technology (HIT)
Like developing regional nations, UAE still has the gap between health information technology (HIT) and its practical implementation.
This is linked to a lack of technical expertise and the vast cost of such advanced information technology systems.
As a result, the UAE's health regulators are progressively considering adopting up-to-date engineering to modernize its healthcare systems.
“Technology is the primary thing going forward,” said Alisha Moopen, Corporate Strategies Director of Dubai-based group Aster DM Healthcare. “You don’t need thousands of doctors; you just need a health management plan team that can take care of the wider population. This is an area we will invest in.”
UAE requires experienced healthcare workers to operate on its advanced technology that will be carried out in the future.
If you’re experienced in HIT, you can enjoy working in UAE more than where you are right now. People like you are likely to be promoted more than those who are just physicians without additional computer-related expertise.
Source: UAE Healthcare Perspectives
- UAE is projected to disburse an additional $182 billion to its economy by 2035, advancing its HIT to attain its goal of becoming a foremost global technology hub for healthcare.
- Presently, the UAE accounts for about 26% of the total healthcare expenditure in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Medical and Wellness Tourism
In the UAE, inbound medical tourism has been growing progressively because of the swelling popularity of visitors’ treatment.
Medical tourism in the nation has been supported by the broader tourism ecosystem, principally hotels, entertainment, and attractions.
The region has low-cost services, and the prevailing tourist infrastructure contributes to the booming medical tourism industry.
Source: New Research: The Fastest Growing Middle East/North Africa Wellness Tourism Markets
- The average cost of a hip replacement in the UAE is under $15,000, which is cheaper than other developed countries, such as the USA and Switzerland, which are $26,500 and $19,722, respectively.
High Demand for Quality Care Among Residents
The population of UAE residents has skyrocketed for the last decade, which calls for more healthcare employees to offer quality care.
In the last two decades, the desire for initial diagnosis has risen in the UAE. This starts from simple ailment patterns to complex diseases.
It has forced the UAE to splurge extra in its investment in the essential healthcare infrastructure.
In the UAE, the healthcare system is still in its early phases of development. Unfortunately, this is disappointing because of the given recent upsurge in lifestyle diseases in the area. Having more primary offerings can enhance the overall well-being of the residents.
If you’re in charge of running healthcare where you are, then UAE is the suitable place for you.
Source: UAE Total Population
- The UAE-headquartered firm intends to open nine facilities in the area and 171 in India in 2022.
- UAE plans to recruit 46 medical professionals for 2 Medcare healthcare facilities, over 300 for Aster healthcare, and approximately 120 to administer 4 Aster Clinics in the area.
- UAE wants to ensure that the waiting time for an appointment in the primary care systems to be less than 72 hours, and 66% of patients receive the desired care on the same day.
- Abu Dhabi, UAE has planned to employ nearly 1,500 doctors a year to cope with the increasing population and staff turnover.
Privatization of Hospitals
Increasing demand for hospitals to take care of the older population has resulted in an upsurge in private sectors offering excellent service to patients.
The UAE government has increased drive to promote private consumption in the sector, heartening the adoption of public-private partnership (PPP) models.
In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the privatization of hospitals is supported by the government because it is likely to encourage spending among citizens.
Source: Distribution of hospital beds in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 2013 to 2017, by sector
- The healthcare spending of private-sector healthcare is projected to grow to 9.5% at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the period 2018-2022.
- The PPP had increased the number of healthcare facilities from 117 in 2013 to above 140 in 2019.
- In 2019, there were about 14,000 hospital beds in UAE.
Key Ideas
Safe nurse staffing is crucial in the UAE because it supports employees to deliver quality care.
With the amplified demand for healthcare professionals, the UAE can seek assistance from the foreign healthcare workforce. Many qualified foreign healthcare providers are willing to offer their skills and qualifications.
Ideally, the assistance provided by the foreign healthcare workforce has helped UAE satisfy its expanding healthcare needs. High demand is caused by unavoidable circumstances, such as healthcare trends caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, technological advancement, emergence of PPP, and increase in population.
For those who do visit healthcare facilities, the services in the UAE are close to perfection. It is because foreign healthcare professionals are experienced in using HIT. Also, the foreign healthcare workforce has improved the UAE’s reputation in rendering world-class medical support.
Healthcare facilities in the UAE are finding effective ways to enhance patient satisfaction. Once patients arrive, these healthcare professionals ensure that patients leave their institutions in their best condition.
