Official statistics provided by the UAE's Ministry of Health indicate that a total of 546 nurses resigned from their jobs at the ministry from December 2000 to October 2001, against an average in past years of just 300 per. A recruitment drive is already underway to employ 250 nurses from the Philippines, which will help fill the gap created by those who have been lured by better financial packages and career growth in Western countries.
A cross section of nurses who spoke to the local Gulf News daily expressed their unhappiness with a heavy work-load, coupled with a lack of respect attributed to their job, and the low pay package despite putting in more than six to seven years of service. Says C.B., an Indian nurse with a government clinic in Dubai for the past 15 years: "I have put in so many years but my salary is just Dh4,000. The reason why many nurses are looking for a break in Europe, UK and the U.S. is the better pay package and the freedom to express their demands. These two factors do not exist in the UAE.” (Albawaba.com)
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
