A renewed call has been made to recruit more male doctors at health centres across Bahrain amid growing complaints from men who say they are too embarrassed to reveal some of their conditions to female physicians.
The proposal has been spearheaded by A’ali Social Charity Society board chairman Aqeel Al A’ali, who believes that the shortage of male doctors is discouraging some patients from undergoing essential medical check-ups where earlier diagnosis is a priority.
“This is not a trivial matter,” Mr Al A’ali told the GDN. “We are hearing from many men who are refraining from visiting health centres altogether because they are uncomfortable sharing private details or undergoing physical examinations with female doctors.”
Mr Al A’ali insists that the solution lies in proactive planning and targeted hiring.
“We don’t expect this problem to be solved overnight,” he said. “But it starts with a recognition that the problem exists, followed by a strategy to ensure that male doctors are available for those who need them.
“Even if we start with prioritising key centres in heavily populated areas, it would be a good first step.”
According to Mr Al A’ali, the proposal has been formally forwarded to Parliament, the Capital Trustees Board and Bahrain’s three municipal councils, with hopes that the issue will be taken up on the national legislative and policymaking agenda.
Figures revealed by Parliament’s services committee show that the gender imbalance is significant. Out of approximately 400 doctors currently employed at Bahrain’s government-run health centres, only 25 are male.
“This is not just a Bahrain-specific problem; it is part of a global trend where the medical profession, particularly general practice and family medicine, has seen a surge in female professionals,” said committee vice-chairman Mohammed Al Olaiwi. “However, that doesn’t mean we should overlook the cultural and social needs of our community.”
Mr Al Olaiwi acknowledged that efforts are being made locally to accommodate male patients where possible, often by assigning male nurses to carry out examinations when requested.
“It is not an ideal solution,” he pointed out. “Many of these patients don’t want to be examined by a nurse, no matter how qualified – they want the confidence of doctor-patient privacy, especially when it comes to sensitive cases.”
Support for the proposal has also been echoed by municipal leaders, who argue that the issue goes beyond mere staffing preferences and touches on matters of dignity, cultural norms and effective healthcare delivery.
Bahrain Medical Society (BMS) board chairman Dr Amer Al Durazi believes it is a legitimate issue that needs to be addressed by the primary healthcare centres.
“Male patients have every right to ask for a male doctor to attend to them,” he said. “I believe there are health centres that don’t have a single male doctor, and that needs to change.
“The 25 male doctors have to be divided in a way that ensures one is present at any shift in all health centres. If that’s not the case, then any shortage has to be covered by hiring locally, or if necessary, from abroad.”
Southern Municipal Council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif is concerned that many Bahraini men are not receiving treatment in a timely manner.
“We have to be realistic,” Mr Abdullatif said. “Some will simply not visit a doctor if they know that they will be attended to by a female physician. This affects early diagnosis, treatment success and overall public health.”
He called for a proactive approach, urging the Health Ministry to start preparing targeted recruitment plans. “We are not saying that female doctors are less competent – absolutely not. But we have to meet patient preferences to ensure the system works efficiently.”
Similar sentiments were shared by Muharraq Municipal Council chairman Abdulaziz Al Naar, who said that such concerns were regularly raised by constituents.
“It is part of our role as municipal leaders to reflect the voices of the community,” he added. “When we continuously hear complaints from residents who feel embarrassed or uncomfortable during medical consultations, we can’t turn a blind eye. The recruitment of more male doctors is not an unreasonable demand.”
Despite widespread support, addressing the issue may not be straightforward. Recruiting qualified male doctors, particularly in general and family medicine, is a challenge globally due to evolving trends in medical education and workforce demographics.
Additionally, the need to balance equal employment opportunities for male and female professionals, while catering to cultural sensitivities, presents a delicate policy dilemma.
The matter is expected to be reviewed in upcoming parliamentary sessions, with MPs likely to press the Health Ministry for clearer strategies on how to address the imbalance.
Municipal councils have also pledged to keep the issue on their agendas, reflecting the concerns of their local communities.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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