International Medical Careers International Medical Careers Forum Forum

Dr Antonio GallucciDr Antonio GallucciConsultant General SurgeryConsultant General Surgery

WHY WHY I AM HERE I AM HERE

TODAY?TODAY?

From Europe to Saudi From Europe to Saudi ArabiaArabia

TopicsTopics Healthcare systemHealthcare system Working lifeWorking life Litigation and complaints about medical services from patients.Litigation and complaints about medical services from patients. Salary and benefitsSalary and benefits CultureCulture License applicationsLicense applications Adapting to life in the Middle East:Adapting to life in the Middle East:

leisure time and pursuits, leisure time and pursuits, opening bank account, currency exchange, overseas opening bank account, currency exchange, overseas

remittanceremittancehousing, getting utilities, housing, getting utilities, travel, travel, residence permits, residence permits, schooling for children.schooling for children.

Healthcare System in KSAHealthcare System in KSA Public Hospitals only for Saudi citizensPublic Hospitals only for Saudi citizens Private Hospitals for all “expats”Private Hospitals for all “expats” Quality level extremely variable among Quality level extremely variable among

private and public hospitalsprivate and public hospitals Country’s wealth often not comparable Country’s wealth often not comparable

to healthcare system to healthcare system Recent worsening of economic condition Recent worsening of economic condition

had some impact on healthcare systemhad some impact on healthcare system

Healthcare System in Gulf Healthcare System in Gulf AreaArea

UAE, Qatar and Bahrain are very UAE, Qatar and Bahrain are very focused on “Health tourism”focused on “Health tourism”

Quality level extremely high both for Quality level extremely high both for what concern Hospital and doctorswhat concern Hospital and doctors

Recent worsening of economic Recent worsening of economic condition hadn’t any impact on condition hadn’t any impact on healthcare systemhealthcare system

High quality healthcare represents a High quality healthcare represents a pivotal asset for these countries now.pivotal asset for these countries now.

Working life / Litigation and Working life / Litigation and Complaints from patients Complaints from patients

Language BarrierLanguage Barrier Women often reluctant to be examinedWomen often reluctant to be examined Face maskFace mask Difficulty in taking history (lies, voluntary Difficulty in taking history (lies, voluntary

incomplete data)incomplete data) Peculiarity of some illnesses (consanguinity)Peculiarity of some illnesses (consanguinity) Usually well-disposed towards western doctorsUsually well-disposed towards western doctors Multi-language working environmentMulti-language working environment Learning curve in understanding the “arabic” Learning curve in understanding the “arabic”

mentalitymentality

Salary and BenefitSalary and BenefitTax-free salary Tax-free salary In KSA, in public hospitals, usual range for In KSA, in public hospitals, usual range for

consultant level is 45.000-65000 SAR /monthconsultant level is 45.000-65000 SAR /month In private hospitals may be lowerIn private hospitals may be lower Mainly according to passportMainly according to passport Accomodation always provided, but….Accomodation always provided, but…. Often education allowance for childrenOften education allowance for children Transportation to/from workplaceTransportation to/from workplace Health insurance and professional insuranceHealth insurance and professional insurance Flight travelFlight travel End of contract benefitEnd of contract benefit

Licence Application (KSA)Licence Application (KSA) Long process, usually done by employerLong process, usually done by employer After evaluation of titles, provisional After evaluation of titles, provisional

licence is givenlicence is given For definitive licence: Prometric exam For definitive licence: Prometric exam

(max 3 times) or interview. After (max 3 times) or interview. After passing this, a professional passing this, a professional accreditation certificate is issued accreditation certificate is issued (renewal time 3 years). (renewal time 3 years).

The Licence to Practice is connected to The Licence to Practice is connected to your position and changes every time your position and changes every time you change workplace. you change workplace.

Licence Application (UAE)Licence Application (UAE) Three different licences: HAAD for Abu Three different licences: HAAD for Abu

Dhabi, DHA for Dubai, MOH for the Dhabi, DHA for Dubai, MOH for the other Emiratesother Emirates

Long and mildly expensive process.Long and mildly expensive process. Licence is compulsory for public Licence is compulsory for public

hospital, in private hospital accepted hospital, in private hospital accepted also ongoing process.also ongoing process.

Preferential pathway for doctors coming Preferential pathway for doctors coming from UK/Ireland/USA/Canada/Australiafrom UK/Ireland/USA/Canada/Australia

But But LifeLife

is not only is not only Work!!! Work!!!

CultureCulture Many obvious differencesMany obvious differences Many similaritiesMany similarities Women not allowed to drive (only KSA), Women not allowed to drive (only KSA),

obliged to wear Abaya and headscarf, not obliged to wear Abaya and headscarf, not allowed to exit alone.allowed to exit alone.

Shops closing at prayer time, 5 times/day Shops closing at prayer time, 5 times/day (mandatory in KSA, optional in other countries)(mandatory in KSA, optional in other countries)

No Cinemas, Theatres, Pubs (in KSA)No Cinemas, Theatres, Pubs (in KSA)Westernized environment in UAE / Qatar / Westernized environment in UAE / Qatar /

BahrainBahrain

Leisure time and pursuitsLeisure time and pursuits If living in Western compound, according If living in Western compound, according

to facilities available (gym, pool, cinema, to facilities available (gym, pool, cinema, tennis court, bowling, gardening etc)tennis court, bowling, gardening etc)

Outside the compound: shopping malls, Outside the compound: shopping malls, promenades in seaside towns promenades in seaside towns (Dammam, Jeddah)(Dammam, Jeddah)

Eating out (single section vs family Eating out (single section vs family section – hygiene)section – hygiene)

Travelling in Gulf Countries (UAE, Travelling in Gulf Countries (UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman)Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman)

Opening a Bank Account Opening a Bank Account Currency Exchange and Currency Exchange and Overseas RemittanceOverseas Remittance

Required local bank accountRequired local bank account Usually credit card issued after 3 Usually credit card issued after 3

months of workmonths of workCareful attention to the spellingCareful attention to the spellingCurrencies of Gulf Area linked to USD Currencies of Gulf Area linked to USD SAR 0.235-0.245 EUR / 0.19-0.21 GBPSAR 0.235-0.245 EUR / 0.19-0.21 GBPEasy through bank, cheaper through Easy through bank, cheaper through

home banking (around 50 EUR / each)home banking (around 50 EUR / each)

Housing / UtilitiesHousing / Utilities Ask always for western compounds!!!Ask always for western compounds!!! No utilities (always included)No utilities (always included) Landline/broadband very difficult to Landline/broadband very difficult to

obtainobtain Mobile line unstable, poor quality, Mobile line unstable, poor quality,

poor quality/price ratiopoor quality/price ratio Fundamental VPN to avoid censorshipFundamental VPN to avoid censorship

Residence PermitResidence Permit “ “Iqama”, usually issued in 3-5 weeks Iqama”, usually issued in 3-5 weeks

after arrival (1000 SAR/year/person).after arrival (1000 SAR/year/person).Multiple Exit / Re-Entry VISA Multiple Exit / Re-Entry VISA

(500 SAR/6 months/person).(500 SAR/6 months/person). Check carefully spelling of the name.Check carefully spelling of the name.Allowed only for wife/sons and parentsAllowed only for wife/sons and parentsSome sponsors hold the passportSome sponsors hold the passport Driving Licence very easy for Driving Licence very easy for

Westerners, cheap (100 SAR/year)Westerners, cheap (100 SAR/year)

Schooling for ChildrenSchooling for Children Public schools not allowed for foreigners Public schools not allowed for foreigners Availability of International Schools Availability of International Schools

according to the place.according to the place. Good quality, good quality/price ratio.Good quality, good quality/price ratio. Sometime education allowance as benefit.Sometime education allowance as benefit. If possible check availability of place If possible check availability of place

before arrival…before arrival…

ConclusionConclusion

Working in the Gulf Area is Working in the Gulf Area is a a ChallengeChallenge

that is that is worth to be acceptedworth to be accepted ifif

well informedwell informed, , preparedprepared, and,, and,mostly, mostly, aware of pros and consaware of pros and cons

Thank you Thank you for your attentionfor your attention

Now you can wake Now you can wake up!!!up!!!