The UAE will gain from filling need for specialists

A worldwide shortage of specialists could be seen as an opportunity in the UAE.

A radiology technician works in the print lab at Al Noor Hospital in Abu Dhabi. Christopher Pike / The National

As medicine has become more sophisticated, with new and better treatments being developed, it's natural that the demand for specialist doctors and staff has increased. But, as The National reported yesterday, it would seem that the medical community worldwide has underestimated the need for ­radiologists. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the UAE.

Part of the problem has been that hospitals function under a model that has barely changed in hundreds of years, centred around surgeons and their support teams. The role of the radiologist was, until relatively recently, limited to not much more than interpreting X-rays that were then handed over to the surgeons. Now, however, radiologists require a high level of competence across a range of modern medical imaging techniques, from ultrasound to computed ­tomography (CT) scanning, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET). They are also increasingly involved in real-time procedures known as image-guided surgery and are responsible for the delivery of radiation therapies.

The shortage of radiologists has reportedly reached a critical level in the UAE, with some hospitals having only one specialist who is on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And, as radiologist Dr Jassem Al Hammadi from the Dubai Bone and Joint Centre noted, there are very few female radiologists, presenting difficulties for women who would prefer to have procedures such as mammograms and MRI scans conducted by someone of the same gender.

The Dubai Health Authority launched a residency programme for radiologists two years ago, with six students currently enrolled. While those students can now assist senior radiologists, their numbers are not high enough to address the shortfall. Given that this is a worldwide situation, the opportunity exists for the UAE’s health authorities to encourage more students into medicine as a profession and then into specialities, such as radiology and gerontology, where there are already shortages, as well as areas where shortages are likely to develop in the future.

As The National has noted before, the UAE is well placed – geographically and economically – to be a centre of medical excellence. By fast-tracking students, especially Emiratis, into these specialities, this country can create jobs and serve the health needs of its citizens and residents and it can carve out a big slice of the lucrative medical tourism industry.