Riyadh: An institutionalised Government-to-Government (G2G) framework has been proposed to facilitate the recruitment of Bangladeshi medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, caregivers, technicians, and allied staff, to Saudi Arabia. This proposal emerged from a recent meeting between Dr. Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan, Senior Secretary of Bangladesh's Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment, and Dr. Mohammed Bin Hassan Al-Dughaither, Director General of General Administration for Contracting and Foreign Offices Affairs at the Saudi Ministry of Health.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the meeting, which occurred during Dr. Bhuiyan's official visit to Riyadh, focused on several key issues, including the recruitment of 1,200 Bangladeshi graduate nurses for the years 2024-25. Bangladesh sought feedback on the performance, professionalism, and service quality of these nurses and requested suggestions for improvements in training, language skills, and overall readiness.
To enhance private-sector employment opportunities for Bangladeshi nurses, Dhaka proposed an exemption from the Prometric exam and suggested adopting a recruitment model similar to that used by the Saudi Ministry of Health for public hospitals. Additionally, Bangladesh emphasized the importance of collaborating with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) to simplify evaluation and licensing processes. The proposal included signing a Memorandum of Understanding or agreement and forming a joint working group or technical committee on accreditation and curriculum alignment.
Feedback from the Saudi Ministry of Health indicated that a draft agreement had been finalized by both parties prior to the health sector's transformation, with modifications possible to align with new policies. The meeting also highlighted a significant demand for critical care nurses in Saudi Arabia, with Bangladeshi nurses currently working as technical nurses in general wards under the supervision of independent nurses.
It was noted that the Saudi Ministry of Health is no longer directly recruiting health professionals. Instead, the Health Holding Company is responsible for recruiting health professionals in Saudi Arabia. Requirements for recruiting nurses, both in public and private sectors, include passing the Prometric exam, having professional experience, obtaining accreditation of professional qualifications by the Saudi Council of Health, acquiring a Saudi license to practice as a nurse, and securing insurance to cover medical errors.