As governments and the private sector accelerate towards constructing healthcare infrastructures that improve access to medical services the demand for healthcare professionals across the region continues its exponential growth. Many variables such as the changing context of health systems, the growing burden of chronic diseases, ageing populations, increasing patient expectations and rapid advances in treatment innovation and technology are all affecting the way health services are delivered, leading to changes in the skill set required to cater to the increasing demand.
Colliers Healthcare & Education division’s market intelligence report presents an overview of the medical education market in KSA, UAE, and Egypt, and the additional demand required to bridge the gap of medical professionals required by 2030. The report also covers recent challenges and opportunities that the medical education market presents across the three countries.
There is a growing tendency to create clinical pathways and affiliations with international medical schools to keep abreast with the latest innovations
Mansoor Ahmed, Executive Director of Head of Development Solutions, Healthcare, Education and PPP, MEA region at Colliers explains: “As a result of the ongoing transition in the region towards the adoption of new medical technologies, the demand is shifting from traditional skill sets to advanced medical education. In addition to the increasing demand to cater to new healthcare facilities, the emergence of Artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, robotic sciences, and genome sequences require the medical workforce to persistently enhance their skill set in order to be able to opt for specialised positions, resulting in demand for more medical education institutions. Moreover, there is a growing tendency to create clinical pathways and affiliations with international medical schools to keep abreast with the latest innovations in the medical/education sector; in addition to offering dual degrees/certificates with international medical institutions which opens doors for local staff to practice and migrate to international markets as a result of shortage of medical staff across the globe.”
Based on Colliers’ estimation, KSA will require approximately 175,000 medical professionals by 2030. However, the demand will scale higher, as presently around 232,000 medical staff are expatriates and the majority of these jobs will have to be filled by Saudi nationals to meet the Kingdom’s Saudisation goals.