Expat doctors in Bahrain say their career in tatters, amid legal quagmire

TDT | Manama                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com   

Report by Julia Cassano

For many people, becoming a doctor is a dream come true.

Medicine is one of the most sought-after and well-respected professions, not just in Bahrain but all around the globe.

But as they say, things are not always what they seem.

In a startling revelation, two expatriate doctors here told The Daily Tribune that despite holding a medical degree approved in the Kingdom, their lives are now in tatters as they are not allowed to pursue a job in Bahrain for being expatriates and plead with the authorities to grant them an exception to practice in Bahrain.

“We are now jobless and are at our wits’ end on this,” they told The Daily Tribune. One of them (names withheld) had her medical degree from a private university here, and the other from a foreign university, while both completed their internships in Bahrain.

What turned their lives upside down, they say, was their nationalities.

The question is not about our qualifications or talent.

It is: “Are we Bahrainis or not?”

“This also means more new formalities to fulfill, which were nonexistent at the time of our graduation.

“And, now, we are at the mercy of the authorities here, even after completing internships at hospitals here,” the expatriate doctors, who do not want to disclose their identities, told The Daily Tribune.

"The current requirements for practising as a doctor for expatriates—five years of abroad experience—came into existence in 2017, but we began pursuing our degrees well before that," said the two women who hold Bahrain-approved medical degrees.

“Hence, we hope for an exception on humanitarian grounds from this to regain our lives and careers, especially as we also hold medical degrees approved by the Higher Education Council here."

“It was our dream to serve the kingdom.”

Our degrees are approved!

One of them confirmed to The Daily Tribune that she completed her internship in Bahrain after graduating from a private medical college here.

“However, when I approached the National Health Regulatory Authority with a job offer from a hospital here, I got rejected."

The reason: I am a foreign citizen! NHRA says, “If I had to accept a position here, I would need five years of medical experience from a different country!”

“So, having a medical degree approved by Bahrain is not enough now for me!” she said, holding her breath.

We completed our internship here!

The other person, a woman with a foreign medical degree, told the Daily Tribune that she also pursued her internship in Bahrain.

She, however, says she started pursuing her degree after approaching the ministry here to ensure “acceptance.”

At that time, officials said,” the degree is approved and showed me a go-ahead.”

They gave me a “verbal confirmation” that my college is on the accepted list in Bahrain.

However, when I approached a hospital for a job, they say: “Since you are not a Bahraini, you need a minimum five-year experience abroad to work here.”

“Despite holding a medical degree from a government-approved college, I ended up nowhere,” she laments.

“It was my dream to serve the kingdom, where I was born and brought up.”

“Now, I have to shell out more money to sit for licensing exams like the USMLE and PLAB and find a position in a foreign country to serve Bahrain.

“I wasted three years of my life hoping to resolve this issue. And now, I am at my wits’ end.

"No hope abroad too!

“The three-year gap also means it is now difficult for me to obtain a position abroad too. “Now, we are at the mercy of the authorities here,” both of them told The Daily Tribune, letting out a deep sigh.

Do we need an exception? According to the guidelines published by the NHRA in 2017 and 2022, Bahraini nationals and new graduates are exempt from the experience requirements for the basic entry level.

All other applicants should fulfill requirements as per their relevant titles according to the Physicians' Qualification Requirements.

However, the doctors told The Daily Tribune that they got admitted to the college before 2017, when such policies did not exist.

“As such is the case, we plead with the high authorities on humanitarian grounds to give us an exception.”

What does the law say?

NHRA, an independent regulatory body established by Law No. 38, has outlined specific guidelines for foreign doctors to practice in Bahrain, which include having a valid medical degree from an approved medical college by the Ministry of Health and clearing licensing exams.

The new guidelines also state that “foreign doctors must have at least five years of experience” to practice here.

What do professionals say?

When approached by professionals here for advice, they told The Daily Tribune: “It is nearly impossible for a foreign doctor, even with a five-year degree, to get a job in Bahrain."

However, foreign doctors with a specialty and a post-graduate with five years of experience can get a job after passing the licensing exams.

It is also worth reading a recent statement from Health Minister Dr. Jaleela Al Sayed.

The minister had said the Kingdom is planning to replace more foreign doctors with Bahrainis.

Reportedly, Bahrain has only 12% of expatriate doctors practicing in public health sectors.