Uneven development: Comparing the indigenous health care workforce in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman

It is suggested that historical, social and religious forces create challenges to women’s participation in the labour market in the Gulf states and impede local health workforce recruitment.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION 
\nA global shortage of health care workers has led to an increase in international migration, often from low-income ‘sending’ countries in Africa, India and the Phillipines (Lorenzo et al., 2007; Seboni, 2009; Hamada et al., in press) to high income ‘receiving’ countries including the UK and the US (Bach, 2007; Brush and Sochalski, 2007; Smith et al., 2006). In the Middle East, many countries have come to rely on international recruitment to staff their burgeoning health care facilities but they are now forced to compete with other countries in an increasingly global market. Here we explore workforce issues in three Gulf states: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman, which have had different degrees of success in recruiting indigenous health care workers.We suggest that historical, social and religious forces create challenges to women’s participation in the labour market in the Gulf states and impede local health workforce recruitment.