Bahrain’s labour fund Tamkeen has spent around BD60 million to support 3,600 Bahraini doctors, nurses and technicians since its inception and until the end of last year, it has been revealed.
Cabinet Affairs Minister Hamad Al Malki, who is politically responsible for Tamkeen, said the fund will continue backing Bahrainis in the health sector by implementing a set of programmes and initiatives that can provide them with qualitative opportunities.
The minister was responding to a written question by Parliament’s first deputy Abdulnabi Salman.
“There have been many initiatives in co-operation with medical sector institutions and around 3,600 Bahrainis, including doctors, nurses and technicians, have benefited from them, with the amount spent being approximately BD60m,” said Mr Al Malki.
“Tamkeen aims to encourage new Bahraini cadres to start their career in the private health sector and last year the fund launched an initiative for doctors within the framework of the National Employment Programme,” he added.
“It involves supporting new medics in the private sector who will now earn salaries of no less than BD800.
“The fund has also launched an initiative to support Bahraini medics currently working in the private sector hospitals as part of their career development programme. Their minimum wages have also been increased to BD800, which has resulted in their average salaries increasing to BD858.”
Mr Al Malki referred to the educational loans initiative for doctors, which provides support to those wishing to continue their academic studies and obtain a master’s degree or fellowship in the required specialisations.
He added that Tamkeen also gives additional financial grants to health institutions in the private sector to encourage them to employ more Bahraini doctors.
“The fund will continue co-operating with the Supreme Council for Health by launching programmes to develop and train more than 700 Bahrainis,” he said. It consists of five main initiatives.
- Supporting Bahraini doctors in co-operation with government hospitals, healthcare centres and the Royal Medical Services to obtain the board certificate.
- Assisting Bahraini medics in the private sector to obtain a board certificate.
- Supporting the enrolment of Bahraini doctors in medical fellowship programmes to obtain the necessary qualifications in the required specialisations. It will contribute to upskilling them in co-operation with government hospitals and the private sector.
- Preparing national cadres in the field of nursing, as Bahrainis who have recently graduated from secondary school will be supported in the Bachelor of Nursing.
- Assisting Bahraini nurses in obtaining specialised qualifications in various fields, including midwifery, critical cases, cardiovascular care, kidney diseases and emergencies.
Mr Al Malki is set to appear at the an upcoming session to respond to further queries Mr Salman may have on the matter.
Tamkeen was established in 2006.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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