Educational initiative aims to boost emiratisation in health sector

Moves to increase the number of UAE nationals in the health sector received a shot in the arm with the signing of an agreement that will help create more health professionals.

The Dh27 million deal signed by General Authority for Health Services (GAHS) and Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) yesterday will offer new degrees in medical sciences.

The agreement was signed by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and President of the HCT, and Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of GAHS and Abu Dhabi Economic Department.

The agreement covers a range of new diplomas and bachelors degrees including nursing, X-ray, laboratories, medical engineering, medical equipment and pharmacology biomedical engineering, X-rays, diagnosis, pharmacology, health administration and others. The courses will cater to about 350 male and female students.

It will help reduce the dependence on expatriates in the health sector, where UAE nationals represent one of the lowest national groups.

Sheikh Hamed said it is very important that a large number of UAE nationals join the health sector as professionals. The country needs personnel in all medical fields and the UAE nationals have the skills and the ability to join this profession at all levels.

He said the GAHS is working to upgrade the quality of medical services. Thus educational institutions, sharing this commitment, are participating in educating the UAE medical cadres and staff to join the medical field.

Sheikh Nahyan also praised the cooperation between the two bodies and said the HCT colleges and the Centre for Excellence Research and Technology (CERT) will make all efforts to offer the most advanced degrees and bachelors programmes.

This is being pursued in coordination with the regional and international education providers to guarantee that students are offered the latest programmes.

Dr Tayeb Kamali, Executive Director of the CERT, said the programmes are the first of their kind offered at a higher institute throughout the country and the first for excellence and quality of programmes.

He praised the collaboration and said the two bodies are keen to support the local institutions to pursue the emiratisation policy.

Earlier Aimed Al Rumaithi, Director of Health Affairs at GAHS, said the number of UAE nationals in the health sector is very low because only a few join this field. Those who join the courses will be given a scholarship in the form of a monthly salary. Also GAHS will guarantee employment at the end of their studies.

He said the initiative also meets the needs and requirements of many UAE national girls, who are reluctant to go abroad to pursue higher studies.