The Bahrain healthcare industry is growing fast, with a workforce ripe for development and the number of private healthcare facilities, like hospitals in Bahrain, increasing from 500 to 800 in 2019 alone. Investment into the private healthcare industry has been growing too, with investors taking an interest in stem cell banks, hair transplants, and alternative medicine. These projects have the potential to transform Bahrain into a specialised healthcare hub that can cater to the entire Gulf region.
An Ideal Location for Healthcare Innovation
Royal Hospital for Women and Children
Opened at the start of 2019, the Royal Hospital for Women and Children (RHWC) is the first private hospital in Bahrain. A US$ 45 million investment, RHWC currently employs 325 physicians, allied health professionals and support staff. Patients from across the GCC are already attracted by RHWC’s skilled staff, highly advanced facilities and operating theatres, together with luxurious patient rooms and suites. The growing number of hospitals in Bahrain is attracting top-performing workforce recruits.
Tamkeen Financing for Businesses
Financial help from government agency Tamkeen makes local employment in Bahrain even more cost-effective. Healthcare services or start-up hospitals in Bahrain can receive training, financing, grants, and other entrepreneurship support for their business development. Tamkeen’s support of the private sector encourages sustainable economic growth for Healthcare in Bahrain.
Bahrain’s National Genome Project
The introduction of the National Genome Project has positioned Bahrain as a leader in preventative methods and genetics. The project involves studies into the genetic makeup of Bahrain’s population to learn more about its genetic susceptibility to disease and to develop diagnostic methods and medicines tailored to individuals. This pioneering research will enable healthcare professionals to treat and prevent further genetic disorders
Competitive Education for Healthcare Professionals
This rapidly evolving industry is opening up new opportunities to the Bahraini workforce in the field of healthcare and in using the latest technologies to detect diseases early on. The Kingdom offers a variety of options for aspiring medical professionals to receive the best education – and an opportunity for a global education right here in the Kingdom.
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) is a private medical university established in Bahrain in 2004. The original university in Dublin, Ireland was founded in 1784, with a focus on education and research to drive positive change in all areas of human health globally. RCSI is licensed by the Higher Education Council in the Kingdom of Bahrain and provides a comprehensive education for students interested in pursuing a career in healthcare.
RCSI Bahrain offers undergraduate and graduate programmes in healthcare, including nursing, medicine, and postgraduate master’s degrees in nursing, healthcare management and quality and safety in healthcare management. RCSI also offers extensive programmes in research, including grants, publications, committees and laboratory facilities.
Arabian Gulf University
The decision to establish Arabian Gulf University (AGU) was made at the fourth meeting of the GCC General Convention of Arab Education in 1979. The first batch of 27 medical students graduated in 1984, a number that now stands at 228 as of 2019. AGU offers an MD degree along with postgraduate studies including master’s degrees in learning disabilities, autism, biotechnology, environmental sciences and technology and innovation management.
AGU plans to expand to King Abdullah Medical City with a medical school campus and a new teaching hospital. The Medical City is due to include a University of Medicine, a 288-bed teaching hospital and accommodation for doctors and students.
Future of Healthcare in Bahrain
The GCC’s population is growing, expected to reach 76 million by 2050. Combined with a rise in chronic lifestyle diseases, this has resulted in an increased demand for healthcare talent across the Kingdom. Bahrain has the lowest density of healthcare workers per capita in the GCC, according to research from the World Health Organisation in 2017. This presents a significant opportunity for expansion into the healthcare market and offers a gateway for professionals to make a bigger impact. With a market on the rise and a workforce ripe for development, now is the time to take advantage of healthcare investment opportunities in Bahrain.
