Press Review of the week

28th November 2011

Physicians shortage is a so relevant problem in MENA that doctorts’ salaries will probably raise much further in the coming months, according to ArabianBusiness. On the one hand, the spread of chronic diseases due to bad habits and lifestyle changes require to launch new hospitals and to upgrade existing healthcare system. On the other hand, the GCC countries are largely reliant on exogenous nurses and doctors to keep their healthcare systems afloat.

We hire many doctors from subcontinent countries like India and Pakistan and some Arab countries like Sudan, but it has become very competitive. Their salaries have gone up significantly and many of them are not interested to relocate.

In Dubai, the mandatory health insurance was enacted in 2008 requiring companies to pay for each employee. But, in 2009, the financial crisis suspended the plans. As ArabianBusiness says, the Government will implement a new-look program next year to extend social coverage for all -in particular to the 75 percent of foreign employees who do not have health insurance.

In Saudi Arabia, where obesity prevalence is up to 30 percent, the Consumer Protection Society is reviewing a law for restaurants to show food calories. However, we noticed in a previous post that calorie-posting, imposed by the New York city to fight against obesity, in fast-food restaurants has little influence on the foods teenagers order. “More than half of the teenagers noticed the calorie postings. A quarter of the teenagers said they were weight-conscious, and 9 percent of the teenagers said the labeling made them buy lower-calorie foods,” -28 percent among adult people.

Investments are not sufficient to maintain a strong health policy against these new plagues: human resources, awareness and pedagogy are a key issue for such a relevant problem.