Job opportunities
Govt and the medical education sector in the country must revisit the reasons behind the Saudi ban
In a welcome move, degrees of doctors who have completed their postgraduate education in the country will now be recognised in Saudi Arabia after a long gap of 11 years. This will pave the way for Pakistani doctors to work in the kingdom and other Gulf states.
For the past decade, MD and MS degrees from Pakistani universities were not recognised in these countries, so such doctors were not allowed to practise there. These qualifications are recognised in Pakistan.
The Saudi government’s decision now allows Pakistanis holding these degrees to conduct clinical practice there. It will prove to be a boon for doctors. Saudi Arabia has one of the largest diasporas of Pakistanis and the largest in the Middle East. This diaspora is one of the largest sources of foreign remittance.
If more Pakistani doctors go to the Gulf states, not only will they be able to serve the significant expatriate population there through a greater familiarity of language and culture but will also generate the much-needed foreign exchange.
The government and the medical education sector in the country must revisit the reasons behind the Saudi ban and ensure that a similar situation does not arise again as it would block the way for trained and skilled Pakistani workers from working abroad. Doctors from Pakistan have gone on to do exceedingly well abroad, particularly in countries such as the US and the UK and many frequent Pakistan to give back to the country.
However, there is always room for improvement in all spheres and more so in medical education. Efforts should be directed to this end. The government, which had prioritised better working opportunities for Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia during the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman earlier this year, must ensure that not many doctors leave the country for greener pastures. There should be a sufficient number of doctors in the country as well.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 20th, 2019.
For the past decade, MD and MS degrees from Pakistani universities were not recognised in these countries, so such doctors were not allowed to practise there. These qualifications are recognised in Pakistan.
The Saudi government’s decision now allows Pakistanis holding these degrees to conduct clinical practice there. It will prove to be a boon for doctors. Saudi Arabia has one of the largest diasporas of Pakistanis and the largest in the Middle East. This diaspora is one of the largest sources of foreign remittance.
If more Pakistani doctors go to the Gulf states, not only will they be able to serve the significant expatriate population there through a greater familiarity of language and culture but will also generate the much-needed foreign exchange.
The government and the medical education sector in the country must revisit the reasons behind the Saudi ban and ensure that a similar situation does not arise again as it would block the way for trained and skilled Pakistani workers from working abroad. Doctors from Pakistan have gone on to do exceedingly well abroad, particularly in countries such as the US and the UK and many frequent Pakistan to give back to the country.
However, there is always room for improvement in all spheres and more so in medical education. Efforts should be directed to this end. The government, which had prioritised better working opportunities for Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia during the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman earlier this year, must ensure that not many doctors leave the country for greener pastures. There should be a sufficient number of doctors in the country as well.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 20th, 2019.