DUBAI // An undergraduate nursing school could be set up to tackle a shortage of Emirati nurses.
Prof Kevin O'Malley, the president of the Bahrain branch of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), said the non-profit organisation, which has a presence at Dubai Health Care City, was considering running the course. Most current nursing courses in Dubai are for post-graduates.
Prof O'Malley said there was a "huge" shortage of nurses, and especially of those who were locally trained, in the region.
"The average ratio of nurses to population is extremely low in the GCC and around 85 per cent of them are expatriates," he said.
Prof O'Malley said demand for good health care workers was rising quickly. "The population of the whole GCC region is predicted to double during the next 15 years, which will increase the demand for health care.
"Additional factors are firstly an increasing burden of what we call diseases of affluence: cardiovascular diseases, heart attacks, lung disease and obesity.
"An increased expectation of the health care systems themselves is also likely."
State expenditure across the region on health care is expected to increase from US$15 billion (Dh55bn) to US$60bn by 2025.
Prof O'Malley said it made sense for a country to focus on training its own citizens - particularly if unemployment was low.
"If students are being trained here, they are trained within the environment they wish to practise in. They can be aligned with a future role in health care systems which is much better than training people in New York or London."
The RCSI's nursing school plans follow the launch of the UAE's first bachelor's programme in midwifery last month at Dubai Women's College.
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Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
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