Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCHS) expected the number of the Saudis working in the health sector to be more than 171,700 by 2027 from their current positions of 74,900, Al-Madina newspaper reported on Monday.

In a report covering the health sector jobs Saudis are expected to fulfill during the 2018-2027 period, the commission said these jobs include doctors, pharmacists, dentists, specialists in applied medicine, nurses and others.

The report said there would be more than 257,000 jobs to be occupied by non-Saudis during the period including opticians, physiotherapists, x-ray technicians, nutritionists and lab technicians.

According to the report, the number of the Saudi dentists will rise to 21,800 from the present 7,268 with 98 percent Saudization by that year.

It said the number of doctors in various specialties would rise to more than 50,800 compared to 33,900 non-Saudi doctors with a Saudization rate of about 60 percent.

The number of Saudi pharmacists will increase to 26,700 compared to 9,440 non-Saudi pharmacists with a rate of 74 percent Saudization.

According to the report, nursing jobs will be at the lowest in the ratio of Saudization, which is not expected to be more than 12 percent.

The report said Saudi nurses are expected to number around 26,200 compared to 185,700 non-Saudi nurses.