The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) on Wednesday announced the commencement of a scholarship and job security programme to encourage qualified Emirati high school graduates pursue careers in Medicine and allied fields.
The “Sponsoring Emiratis in the Medical Sector Programme” is aligned with the “Emiratisation drive in Dubai” and starts this academic year 2016-2017 for 130 successful applicants who would also be receiving monthly cash incentives.
It is also aimed at addressing the lack of Emirati medical practitioners, a conclusion of a DHA study conducted a few years back.
According to the study, Emirati youths have shunned medical and allied courses, specifically medicine, because this totals 13 to 14 years of studies broken into seven years of academics and six to seven years of internship and training.
Expressing the huge demand for medical practitioners, DHA Board chairman and director general, Humaid Al Qatami, said: “There is a need for experienced Emirati cadres in the medical sector in Dubai to support the growing developments this vital sector is experiencing.”
“By launching this programme, we hope to not only elevate this sector further but also continue providing world class services to the people of Dubai,” he added.
Al Qatami spoke from the press conference held at the regulatory body headquarters in Oud Metha.
From the “41st Arab Health Week” held in January 2016, records obtained by The Gulf Today showed there are 31 healthcare facilities, 25 of which are private entities operating under the DHA. The records revealed that accredited by the DHA were 33,563 health professionals and 63 specialities.
There were 6,700 physicians of the 33,563.
DHA-Human Resources director Amna Al Suwaidi on Wednesday said that of the current workforce, Emiratis in the medical, paramedics and nursing fields are at 27 per cent, 14 per cent and one per cent, respectively.
Al Qatami is expecting that inquiries about the scholarship and the job security to all graduates in any of the DHA hospitals and centres will start rolling in from Thursday.
Interested Emiratis with a GPA (grade point average) of 3 may start applying at the DHA website.
Al Suwaidi said a campaign shall be carried out in all schools from this year.
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