A major overhaul of Bahrain’s healthcare workforce training has been proposed by MPs, with artificial intelligence, telemedicine and mental health support at the heart of a strategy designed to prepare medical professionals for the future of healthcare.
The Strategic Thinking Bloc has called on the government to modernise the education and training of doctors, nurses, technicians and allied health professionals, arguing that traditional models must evolve to keep pace with rapid technological advancements, changing patient expectations and growing pressures on frontline healthcare workers.
The proposal calls for comprehensive reforms centred on digital healthcare, continuous professional development, staff wellbeing and specialised clinical training, while introducing flexible online and hybrid learning programmes that allow healthcare workers to upgrade their skills without interrupting essential services.
Parliament’s financial and economic affairs committee chairman and Bahrain Chamber treasurer MP Ahmed Al Salloom said investing in healthcare professionals was among the country’s smartest long-term investments.
“Healthcare is no longer confined to hospital wards and clinics,” he told the GDN. “Digital medicine, artificial intelligence, electronic health records and telemedicine are transforming patient care worldwide. Bahrain must ensure our healthcare workforce remains at the forefront of these developments.”
Mr Al Salloom, whose constituency includes Salmaniya Medical Complex, the kingdom’s largest government hospital, said highly trained professionals translated directly into better patient care and stronger economic performance.
“Every dinar invested in developing our doctors, nurses and healthcare specialists delivers multiple returns through higher productivity, improved patient outcomes and a more resilient healthcare system,” he said.
“We must create an environment where learning never stops and innovation becomes part of everyday medical practice.”
Strategic Thinking Bloc spokesman MP Khalid Bu Onk said healthcare workers needed modern tools alongside modern knowledge.
“The lessons from recent global health crises showed that our frontline professionals must be prepared for every challenge,” he said.
“We need flexible training programmes that combine classroom learning with digital platforms, ensuring medical staff can continue developing their expertise regardless of their demanding schedules.”
The proposal also places significant emphasis on protecting the mental wellbeing of healthcare workers through leadership development, stress management and burnout prevention programmes.
Bloc MP Dr Mariam Al Dhaen said supporting caregivers is essential to sustaining quality healthcare.
“Our healthcare professionals dedicate their lives to caring for others,” she said. “We must equally invest in protecting their mental health, strengthening leadership skills and creating workplaces where they can thrive professionally and personally.”
She added that healthier medical teams ultimately deliver safer and more compassionate care for patients.
Bloc MP Bassema Mubarak stressed the importance of tailoring education to Bahrain’s evolving healthcare priorities.
“Training programmes should be evidence-based and continuously updated to address chronic diseases, infectious disease management, maternal and child healthcare, and other emerging medical needs,” she said.
“Healthcare education must remain dynamic rather than static if we want to maintain international standards.”
The MPs are also calling for detailed needs assessments across healthcare institutions to identify skills shortages before introducing updated, culturally relevant curricula supported by experienced mentors.
A comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework would measure improvements in professional competencies, staff satisfaction and patient outcomes, ensuring every stage of implementation delivers measurable results.
Bloc MP Ali Al Dossary said accountability would be crucial to the initiative’s success. “Training should never become a box-ticking exercise,” he said.
“We need measurable indicators that demonstrate improved clinical performance, higher patient satisfaction and stronger workforce retention. Every programme must produce tangible results that benefit both healthcare professionals and the community.”
The bloc believes combining face-to-face instruction with advanced e-learning platforms will create a culture of lifelong learning while strengthening Bahrain’s ability to respond to future public health challenges.
Members also stressed that the initiative, if adopted, could position Bahrain among the region’s leaders in healthcare workforce development by integrating cutting-edge technology, continuous education and staff wellbeing into a single national strategy aimed at delivering smarter, safer and more sustainable healthcare for generations to come.
Parliament Speaker Ahmed Al Musallam has referred the proposal to the services committee, which will review it in consultation with the Health Ministry, the Supreme Council for Health (SCH), Government Hospitals, Primary Healthcare Centres and private-sector healthcare representatives.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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