Saudi to retire expat docs after 20 yrs of service

In a move that will impact many Indian docs, Saudi authorities have decided not to renew contracts.

In a move that will impact many Indian doctors, Saudi Arabian authorities have decided not to renew contracts of foreign doctors who have completed 20 years of service.

There are more than 43,000 doctors in the Kingdom, of whom 78 per cent are expatriates.

The new decision aims at creating job opportunities for qualified Saudi doctors who have returned home after completing higher studies in foreign countries.

“The Health Ministry has banned foreign doctors who have completed more than 20 years service in the Kingdom from practising the profession,” Health Minister Dr Hamad Al-Manie was quoted as saying in Al-Jazirah Arabic daily.

Heath departments in a city or region requiring the service of such doctors must get the permission of the assistant deputy minister for human resource development for the renewal of their contracts.

The Ministry of Health runs nearly 200 hospitals in addition to over 2,000 primary health care centres. Plans are under way to transform government hospitals in the Kingdom into public corporations in order to operate them commercially and improve health services. The project, which has been finalised by the ministry, would cost 10 billion Saudi Riyals (Rs 100 billion approx).