Retired Bahraini doctors could be called back into service after Parliament gave the nod to a plan aiming to put them in part-time and temporary roles in fields currently filled by foreign specialists.
MP Maryam Al Dhaen, who pushed for the move, said it was time to stop relying on overseas hires when Bahrain had trained doctors with decades of experience.
“These doctors have spent years — sometimes up to 15 — training under state-funded programmes. To let that knowledge go to waste is a loss not just for them, but for the health system as a whole,” she said.
The motion, backed by Dr Ali Al Nuaimi, Ali Al Dossary, Khalid Buanaq and Ahmed Al Musallam, calls for the government to bring Bahraini doctors out of retirement, particularly in fields where foreign staff were only brought in due to shortages.
Al Dhaen said the current situation made little sense.
Return
“We had to bring in foreign consultants when our own specialists retired. But now they’re willing to return, why should we keep spending more on overseas hires instead of putting our own doctors back to work?” she said. Money was a key factor in the push.
The MPs pointed out that foreign consultants often come with a heavy price tag, receiving housing, travel perks and other allowances that drive up costs.
Numbers
“The numbers don’t lie. A Bahraini doctor working parttime would cost far less than a foreign consultant on a full package,” the proposal stated.
Al Dhaen argued that having more Bahraini doctors in hospitals wouldn’t just help with costs — it would improve patient care.
“People trust local doctors. They understand the language, the culture, and the concerns of their patients. That familiarity helps people feel at ease, which, in turn, helps recovery,” she said.
Warning
She also warned that if the government didn’t move quickly, Bahrain risked losing these retired doctors to private hospitals, many of which are foreign-owned.
“These doctors are ready to work, and private hospitals know their worth. If we don’t bring them back into public healthcare, their expertise — and the money they generate— could end up going elsewhere.” She added that the decision came at the right time, with Bahrain about to roll out its own medical board exams.
System
“New doctors need mentors who understand what they’re going through. Foreign consultants may be highly skilled, but there’s no replacement for having a local doctor who knows the system and can guide them through the process,” she said.
The MPs said foreign doctors were still holding jobs that Bahraini doctors could take over now.
“Retired Bahraini doctors don’t need extra checks — they’ve already worked in public healthcare for years. There’s no reason to stall on this,” Al Dhaen said.
