TRUTH REVEALED | Why do DOCTORS leave the MIDDLE EAST?

Summary

This video explores why doctors are leaving the Middle East despite attractive salaries and tax-free incentives. Doctors cite reasons like professional stagnation, lack of career growth, and poor work-life balance. Social factors include high cost of living, no long-term citizenship options, and limited educational opportunities for children. The video also discusses the types of doctors migrating to the Middle East and the specialties they're leaving, emphasizing the need for long-term solutions like moving to Western countries for better prospects.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Doctors from various countries are attracted to the Middle East for tax-free salaries, proximity to home, and a good social life.
• 💼 High demand for medical professionals in the Middle East, especially in countries like the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
• 🏥 The majority of doctors registered for emergency medicine and other specialist services are from Middle Eastern countries.
• 📈 The trend of doctors moving from the Middle East to countries like Australia is increasing, with many seeking better career prospects and quality of life.
• 👨‍⚕️ Three main types of doctors migrate to the Middle East: General Practitioners (GPs), Specialists, and Consultants from Western countries.
• 💼 The salaries in the Middle East can range from $120,000 to $300,000 USD per year, depending on the country, specialty, and experience.
• 📉 Reasons for leaving the Middle East include professional stagnation, lack of career growth, and job insecurity.
• 🏢 Some doctors feel overworked and undervalued, leading to a desire for better work-life balance and professional recognition.
• 🌐 The lack of long-term citizenship options and visa issues for older children are significant concerns for doctors considering the future.
• 📚 Limited educational opportunities for children and the high cost of living are also factors driving doctors to seek opportunities elsewhere.
• 🌱 Doctors from non-Arab backgrounds may feel like second-class citizens, facing discrimination and inequality in the workplace.

Q & A

Why are doctors considering leaving the Middle Eastern countries?

Doctors are considering leaving the Middle Eastern countries due to various professional and social reasons such as lack of career growth, resentment from busy work environments, job insecurity, lack of proper training structures, rising inflation, poor work-life balance, limited long-term citizenship options, concerns over children's education, and issues with equality.

What are the three types of doctors migrating to the Middle East?

The three types of doctors migrating to the Middle East are General Practitioners (GPs), Specialists, and Consultants. GPs include Family Medicine doctors or Junior doctors with some experience in their home countries. Specialists are doctors from countries like Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Pakistan, India who have completed postgraduate training. Consultants are usually from Western countries and have completed their specialist training and exams in their home countries or predominantly in Middle Eastern countries.

What are the common reasons for doctors to leave their home countries to work in the Middle East?

Doctors commonly leave their home countries for work in the Middle East due to better salaries, tax-free incentives, better lifestyle, and sometimes for career progression linked to exams and experience.

What are the top reasons for doctors leaving their positions in Middle Eastern hospitals?

The top reasons for doctors leaving their positions in Middle Eastern hospitals include professional reasons such as deskilling, lack of career growth, resentment from busy work environments, job insecurity, and lack of proper training structures. Social reasons include rising inflation, poor work-life balance, no long-term citizenship options, children's education concerns, and issues with equality.

What are the typical salaries for doctors in various Middle Eastern countries?

The typical annual salaries for doctors in Middle Eastern countries vary but are generally reported as follows: United Arab Emirates $150,000 to $300,000, Saudi Arabia $120,000 to $250,000, Qatar $140,000 to $280,000, Kuwait $130,000 to $260,000, and Oman $110,000 to $230,000. These figures can include benefits such as housing allowances, health insurance, educational allowances for children, and sometimes even tickets back and forth from the primary country of origin.

What are the professional reasons that doctors cite for leaving the Middle East?

Professional reasons cited by doctors for leaving the Middle East include deskilling due to low volume of cases, lack of career growth, resentment from busy work environments, job insecurity, and lack of proper training structures leading to certification of completion of specialist training and specialization.

What are the social reasons that doctors cite for leaving the Middle East?

Social reasons cited by doctors for leaving the Middle East include rising inflation leading to high cost of living, poor work-life balance, long working hours, no long-term citizenship options, children's education concerns, visa issues for older children, and issues with equality.

What are the common Specialties that doctors are leaving from in the Middle East?

The common Specialties that doctors are leaving from in the Middle East include General Medicine, Radiology, Orthopedic Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Anesthesia, Cardiology, Emergency Medicine, Dermatology, Psychiatry, General Surgery, and Pediatrics.

What are the implications of the lack of proper training structures for doctors in the Middle East?

The lack of proper training structures implies that doctors may not have the opportunity to advance their careers or specialize further. It can lead to resentment and a lack of long-term career prospects, which may prompt doctors to seek opportunities in countries with better training and specialization programs.

How does the high cost of living in some Middle Eastern countries affect doctors considering leaving?

The high cost of living in some Middle Eastern countries, especially in capital cities, can erode the value of the high salaries offered to doctors. This can lead to financial dissatisfaction and a desire to seek opportunities in countries where their salaries have more purchasing power.

What are the long-term prospects that doctors are seeking when they consider leaving the Middle East?

Doctors are seeking long-term prospects such as higher specialist qualifications that are well-recognized, citizenship opportunities, and the freedom to live and work in more equitable societies when they consider leaving the Middle East. They often look towards countries like the US, UK, Canada, or Australia for these prospects.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Reasons for Doctors Leaving the Middle East

The paragraph discusses the reasons why doctors are leaving the Middle East, despite attractive salaries and tax-free incomes. It highlights the professional and social factors influencing their decision. The speaker shares personal experiences and observations, noting that the majority of doctors registered for their services are from Middle Eastern countries. They mention that despite offers like an emergency medicine job in Abu Dhabi for a high salary in 2006, and a consultant job in Qatar for an even higher salary, many doctors choose to leave. The reasons include professional stagnation, lack of career growth, and social issues such as high cost of living, poor work-life balance, and limited long-term citizenship options. The speaker also notes that none of the doctors they spoke to cited the hot weather as a reason for leaving.

05:02

💼 Professional and Social Challenges Faced by Doctors in the Middle East

This paragraph delves into the specific professional and social challenges that lead doctors to consider leaving the Middle East. Professionally, doctors report feeling deskilled due to low case volumes and a lack of career growth opportunities. They also express resentment over long working hours and job insecurity. Socially, they face issues such as rising inflation, poor work-life balance, lack of long-term citizenship options, and limited educational opportunities for their children. Additionally, there is a noted disparity in treatment between Arab and non-Arab citizens, with expatriate doctors often feeling like second-class citizens despite making up a significant portion of the medical workforce.

10:04

🌱 Seeking Better Opportunities and Quality of Life

The final paragraph summarizes the overall sentiment of doctors considering leaving the Middle East for countries like the US, UK, Canada, or Australia. It emphasizes the pursuit of higher specialist qualifications, citizenship, and the desire to live and work in more equitable societies. The speaker shares a doctor's perspective that while Middle Eastern medical jobs are a good choice immediately after completing basic medical degrees and specializations in home countries like Pakistan and India, long-term solutions require migration to Western countries for better opportunities and quality of life.

Keywords

💡Saturation

Saturation in this context refers to the state where the market is filled with too many similar things or people, leading to intense competition and less opportunity for growth. In the video, it's mentioned that the market in some Middle Eastern countries is getting super saturated, which is pushing doctors to consider leaving despite the attractive salaries and tax-free incentives.

💡Migrant Population

A migrant population consists of people who move from one place to another temporarily or permanently, often seeking better opportunities. The script mentions that Middle Eastern countries have a predominantly migrant population, which includes doctors from various countries seeking better professional and social life.

💡Tax-Free Salaries

Tax-free salaries refer to earnings that are not subject to income tax. The video script highlights that one of the reasons doctors are initially attracted to Middle Eastern countries is the offer of tax-free salaries, which can be a significant financial incentive.

💡Professional Reasons

Professional reasons are the motivations related to one's career or job. The video discusses how doctors leave Middle Eastern countries due to professional reasons such as lack of career growth, limited opportunities for advancement, and feeling deskilled due to low volume of cases.

💡Social Reasons

Social reasons are the motivations related to one's personal life and societal factors. The video script mentions that doctors are leaving Middle Eastern countries due to social reasons such as high cost of living, poor work-life balance, and lack of long-term citizenship options.

💡Specialties

Specialties refer to specific areas of medical practice that a doctor chooses to focus on after completing general training. The video talks about various medical specialties such as emergency medicine, radiology, and cardiology, from which doctors are leaving Middle Eastern countries.

💡Consultant

A consultant in the medical field is a senior doctor who has completed specialized training and advises on complex cases. The script discusses how consultants from Western countries are attracted to Middle Eastern countries for higher salaries but may eventually leave due to various professional and social reasons.

💡GP (General Practitioner)

A General Practitioner is a doctor who provides primary care to patients. The video mentions that many GPs are migrating to Middle Eastern countries for better salaries but face challenges such as long working hours and lack of career progression.

💡Resentment

Resentment is a feeling of bitterness or persistent indignation. In the context of the video, it's mentioned that some doctors feel resentment due to the lack of proper training structures and limited opportunities for career advancement in Middle Eastern countries.

💡Equitable Societies

Equitable societies are those that are fair and provide equal opportunities to all members. The video concludes by suggesting that doctors are seeking to migrate to countries like the US, UK, Canada, or Australia for a more equitable society where they can have better recognized qualifications, citizenship, and freedom to live and work.

💡Visa

A visa is a permit issued by a country that allows a foreigner to enter, leave, or stay for a specified period. The script discusses the challenges faced by doctors with visas in Middle Eastern countries, especially for older children and the lack of long-term citizenship options.

Highlights

Market saturation is driving doctors to seek opportunities in the Middle East.

Middle Eastern countries offer tax-free salaries and are geographically convenient for doctors from India and Pakistan.

The speaker applied for a job in Abu Dhabi post-MRCSE, highlighting the appeal of Middle Eastern opportunities.

After Australian fellowship training, a job offer in Qatar for a substantial salary was received.

90% of registered doctors in the speaker's service are from Middle Eastern countries.

Four GPs arrived in Australia via the MRCGP International Pathway in June, indicating a trend.

Doctors from the Middle East are obtaining comparability outcomes to practice in Australia.

Radiologists from Pakistan are also seeking opportunities in Australia post-partial comparability outcome.

Three types of doctors migrate to the Middle East: GPs, specialists, and consultants.

Doctors from countries like Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Pakistan, and India are attracted to the Middle East for better salaries and lifestyles.

Consultant positions in the Middle East are often filled by doctors from Western countries.

Specialties leaving the Middle East include General Medicine, Radiology, Orthopedic Surgery, and more.

Salaries in the Middle East vary widely based on experience, grade, and country.

Professional reasons for leaving include lack of case volume, slow career growth, and resentment over work conditions.

Social reasons include high cost of living, poor work-life balance, and lack of long-term citizenship options.

Education opportunities for children are limited compared to Western countries.

Doctors feel like second-class citizens due to discrimination based on nationality.

The decision to leave the Middle East is often in pursuit of higher qualifications, citizenship, and more equitable societies.

Transcripts

because the market is getting super

saturated and in some countries of

Middle East even the passport of the

primary country of the applicant

mattress you know I love Middle Eastern

countries tax-free salaries closer to

home and for countries like India and

Pakistan and also a hop away from

European countries having domestic

Health zero crime rate and good social

life with predominantly migrant

population this is a reality not a

fiction but why do doctors then want to

leave the Middle Eastern countries even

I applied my first application was when

I was leaving the UK after completing my

mrcs examination I was offered an

emergency medicine doctor job in Abu

Dhabi for 18,000 dams per month that was

back in 2006 and then after that after

finishing my fellowship training here in

Australia and passing all the exams and

completing the training I was offered an

emergency medicine consultant job at

92,000 qat real per month as a

consultant in Qatar interestingly I

never went to middle e for various

reason but I have very closely watched

this space with constant feedback from

my colleagues and especially when I

launched the emergency Focus GP and

specialist service 90% of our registered

doctors are doctors from Middle Eastern

countries all of the countries that

includes United Arab Emirates Qatar

Saudi Arabia Oman bahin and in fact this

month of June I've had four GPS arriving

why the mrcgp international Pathway to

Australia in just last 15 days or so

plus one doctor from Pakistan who has

been successful in obtaining partial

comparability outcome with royal

Australian College of Physicians and

another doctor from Middle East who is

likely to get a substantial

comparability outcome again for the

Royal Australian College of Physicians

for Journal medicine specialty he too is

originally from India post MD but coming

from Middle East and then I've also got

FCPS Radiologists from Lor Pakistan who

after obtaining a partial comparability

outcome is now coming to start work here

in Melbourne and after having multiple

one-on-one detailed conversation with

all of them these Specialists and GPS

have given a very similar reason for

leaving the Middle Eastern countries

professional reasons are a bit different

but social reason are strikingly similar

and by the way not even one of them

blamed the hot weather as a reason for

leaving the Middle Eastern countri so in

this video I will divide this

conversation into migrating to Middle

Eastern countries Specialties and

salaries that they're leaving from

reasons for leaving both professional

and social and finally I'll lay out my

conclusions at the end of convers now

migrating to Middle East in my

understanding there are three types of

doctors who migrate number one they are

GPS now GPS could be Journal

practitioners or Family Medicine doctors

or there could be jior doctors who are

working in the hospital they're all

called Journal practitioner there are

GPS who went to Middle East after some

experience in their own home countries

and then did relevant Middle East

licensing examination later did some

further examinations like mrcgp whilst

being in Middle Eastern countries for a

better salary and in those countries you

know perhaps the career progression is

linked to these exams for better job

security Now Specialists large number of

doctors from Egypt Libya Sudan Pakistan

India who went to Middle East as

Specialists so these are the doctors who

have completed postgraduate training and

exams in their own country like Arab

board FCPS MD exams and then work in

their own chosen Specialties they went

for a better lifestyle salaries and

taxfree salary incentive number three

consultant now these are the consultant

from UK US Australia and some European

South American and South African

countries I've also seen some people

being promoted to consultant level after

been working as specialist for a number

of years and after they' have completed

exams and of course experience in their

own home country or in predominantly

Middle Eastern countries so there could

be any person from FCPS from Pakistan

and MD from India or F frcs of f frcp or

MRCP um or faim from Australia so there

could be a mixed bag of consultant they

are actually on top of the food chain

excellent salaries and facilities and by

and large have left the Western

countries because of tax and lack of

saving and perhaps better lifestyle as

most of these doctors are naturalized

citizen from Pakistan India and other

countries those who are born and bred

and did the primary medical

qualification and specialist training in

the Western countries tend to go from

medium-term to a little bit longer term

5 to 10 years and once they have made

enough money would go back to the US UK

and Australia as a families are still in

those countries extended families

brothers sisters grandparents

Specialties that they are leaving from

as of now I've had inquiries and the

people who are registered in our

workshops are from Journal medicine

Journal practitioners Radiology

orthopedic surgery obric and Gynecology

anesthesia cardiologist emergency

medicine Dermatology and I've also been

getting increasing number of inquiries

from psychiatrists Journal surgeons and

pediatrician so I think it's only fair

to say that we will have more

Specialties joining this list as a time

goes by salaries that they're leaving

from the salaries again are very

variable based on the grade and years of

experience and whether doctors work as

GP Specialist or consultant and in some

countries of Middle East even the

passport of the primary country of the

applicant mattress on an average the XC

doctors have reported following annual

salaries in US Dollars United Arab

Emirates $150,000 to about

$300,000 Saudi Arabia $120,000 to

$250,000 qatar1 $40 to

$280,000 Kuwait $130 to

$260,000 Oman 110 to

$230,000 us now there could be a

variability based on your experience the

grade as being GP Specialist or

consultant or several other different

factors based on your portfolio so these

figures are not you know hardcore

figures but some sort of variable

average now these figures often include

benefits such as housing allowances

health insurance educ ational announces

for children and sometimes even tickets

to back and forth from your primary

country of origin now top reasons for

leaving professional and social not

professional reasons believe it or not

one of the cardiologists in our

specialist pathway was saying to me that

he's actually deskilling as an

interational cardiologist due to low

volume of cases and most of the cases

being done by consultant when he is

working as a specialist compared to his

work in India as an interval

cardiologist he's only getting tenth of

the work compared to what he was getting

back in India for him that was one of

the reason or that is actually one of

the reasons that he would like to

consider leaving the Middle East for

Australia lack of career growth it

appears that for most GPS and

Specialists the career growth is either

non-existent or very slow it may mean a

small increase in salary after every few

years and after some experience and

after some specialist licensing exam so

it is not something which is done

automatically every year it is somewhat

based on the mutual agreement payment

and term appraisals and based on the

exams and courses that you've done

number three resentment there seems to

be a busy work environment in Middle

Eastern Hospital some of the athetist

and Ed Consultants du 5 days 8 hour

shifts and for some Specialties that may

include even night shifts excluding on

call work opportunities for GPS and even

some specialist there are shrinking in

terms of their Market potential because

the market is getting super saturated

this is resulting in huge disparity of

pay with newcomer GPS being hired for as

low as 12,000 to 15,000 dhams job

security there may be doctors working

for years in Middle East but you also

come across a culture where there is a

little job security they're especially

true for GPS and even some Specialists

who can easily be replaced by more

qualified Consultants from the Western

markets lack of proper training

structure leading to certificate of

completion of specialist training and

specialization now you know inv Western

countries after completion of USMLE or

clab or AMC you can complete a world

recognized training and fellowship there

appears there are still no native

training programs welld designed for XA

doctors like you come stay in the Middle

East uh in Dubai in Saudi Arabia you do

their license exam and then you join a

training program at the end of the

training program you can do a fellowship

exam and be promoted as a consultant in

that country it just does not happen in

those countries EXP doctors who are

hired as GP or specialist they are there

to stay and service at that grade unless

until they directly hired as a

consultant which means that they've

already finished their Fellowship

training and specialization in the

Western Country and that does lead to

some sort of resentment and lack of

career Prospect social reason Rising

inflation leading to High Cost of Living

and salaries and they often say that

these salaries are actually not well

adjusted to the rising cost of living

especially in some of the cap Capital

Cities like Dubai Abu Dhabi Qatar and

even the capital city of Saudi Arabia

poor work life balance long working

hours especially for GPS and some of the

GPS I've come to know that they work up

to 50 to 60 hours the more work that you

do you're able to generate a better

income for your employer and for

yourself no long-term citizenship option

even with golden Visa in Dubai and

long-term visas in emirats States and

Saudi Arabia there's still no option of

citizenship or passport change which

seems to be a bit of resentment for some

doctors who've been staying in the

countries for 20 plus years children

education compared to 10 years ago I

think there are multiple options for

schooling and especially universities

but there are still limited number of

opportunities compared to Western

countries where there are options like

courses and University scholarships and

even if the doctors and children are

citizen of that Western Country the

children can actually apply for a loan

to be properly educated University

situation so that seems to be one of the

very important issues for the migrant

doctors especially who are working

Middle East in countries with children

who are in you know 18 plus age group

visa for older children for that matter

some people have reported that after 18

years of age the visa for children is a

major hassle unless and until they are

employed or in full-time University

education equality this seems to be a

major issue where Arab versus non-arab

people are treated very differently

especially in Saudi Arabia Emirates

Qatar and other smaller places too the

XA doctors and Workforce despite forming

23s of the majority feel like second

great citizen inclusion uh one of the

doctor who recently migrated from Middle

East to Australia reported Middle East

medical jobs are perhaps the best choice

after mbbs and specialization in home

countries like Pakistan and India but

afterwards one must think of more

long-term and Final Solution by

migrating to the US UK Canada or

Australia the decision is best for

gaining higher specialist well

recognized qualification citizenship and

above all more freedom to live and work

in a more Equitable Societies in the

west let me know what you think this is

after all an impression of various

conversations that I've had with

multiple doctors until next time look

after yourself and each other goodbye