Failed medical nurses primed to fill skills gap

Medical nurses that failed the UAE Ministry of Health's nursing exam are being targeted as a potential solution to the country's shortage of dental technicians, MED can reveal.

Last month, the Ministry announced that private sector dentists in the northern emirates operating without a technician or nurse would be barred from renewing their licences.

The ruling sparked complaints from dentists, who argued that the shortage of technicians available for employment meant clinics would be unable to source suitable staff. The Ministry said it would look to failed medical nurses to plug the gap.

"We decided that we would approach the individuals who had failed the exam to practice and offer them the chance to work as a dental technician, providing they pass the required interview," said Dr Ibrahim Al Qadi, director of the Private Medical Practice Department at the MoH.

"We have given those three months to prepare - though they would be working as a dental technician, not a dental nurse," he added.

Recent Ministry inspections revealed that large numbers of dentists in the northern emirates do not employ dental nurses or technicians. The discovery prompted the Ministry to issue a circular informing the private sector that it had until April 30 to abide by the new rule.

"We did get a lot of complaints and they mostly said that there was a shortage of technicians in the market," said Al Qadi.

"There are a lot of people in countries like India and Egypt qualified to work as technicians, but the problem is that (local dentists) do not offer high enough salaries."

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