The government has been urged to provide employment opportunities for newly graduated Bahraini doctors.
The proposal has been submitted by a group of legislators who claim that several qualified medical professionals are being left unemployed for years after completing their studies.
Five MPs, led by Mohammed Al Olaiwi, called on the authorities to fast-track the recruitment of Bahraini medical students upon graduation, warning that prolonged unemployment risks eroding vital clinical skills and morale.
“Medicine is, by nature, a profession that requires continuous hands-on practice,” Mr Al Olaiwi said. “It is unreasonable for doctors to remain unemployed for years without the opportunity to work and develop their skills.”
He claimed that MPs are being regularly approached by unemployed doctors seeking help, describing the situation as both ‘alarming and unacceptable’.
“Employment requests from doctors are frequent and constant, and they reach the offices of MPs almost every day,” he said. “We have to act and ensure that these doctors are given the opportunity to serve their country.”
Mr Al Olaiwi noted that many unemployed medics are highly qualified, holding medical board certifications or advanced specialisations, and having achieved outstanding results during overseas scholarships.
“They returned home with hope and ambition, expecting to secure jobs that would provide them with a dignified livelihood,” he said. “Instead, many have faced years of frustration and disappointment after repeated unsuccessful attempts to find employment in their field.”
In some cases, he added, doctors have resorted to unpaid or voluntary work in government and private hospitals, including Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC), in an effort to gain practical experience and improve their chances of being hired.
He warned that continued delays in hiring could have serious consequences, not only for the doctors themselves, but also for Bahrain’s healthcare system.
“Leaving trained doctors idle undermines the investment the state has made in their education and weakens our ability to meet future healthcare needs,” he added.
The proposal calls on the relevant authorities to adopt a structured and transparent mechanism to integrate Bahraini medical graduates into the healthcare system immediately after graduation – whether through internships, residency programmes or permanent posts.
“If we do not act now, we risk losing talented doctors to other countries or to careers outside medicine altogether,” Mr Al Olaiwi said.
“Bahrain needs its doctors, and our doctors deserve the chance to work, contribute to society and serve their people.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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