Table of Contents
Introduction
The UAE is trying to uplift its medical tourism by investing in state-of-the-art hospitals and medical facilities. To provide world-class healthcare services, the UAE focuses on developing specialized medical treatments that are not readily available in other countries.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi already hold the 6th and 8th positions in the world, respectively, for medical tourism as a result of this targeted strategy.
The most important of which is “Orthopedics and Dermatology.” These fields have seen significant advancements in the UAE, with top-notch orthopedic clinics offering advanced procedures for joint replacements, sports injuries, and many more. Still, these clinics require effective orthopedic recruitment to cater to their talent need.
Orthopedics is the branch of medicine concerned with diagnosing, treating, and preventing disorders and injuries affecting the musculoskeletal system. This includes fractures, arthritis, ligament tears, and spinal disorders, among other things.
Healthcare organizations must quickly align and modify their offerings to satisfy the rising demand of medical tourists while keeping the vision of the Dubai Healthcare Authority (DHA).
This situation has increased the demand for orthopedic surgeons and physicians in the UAE as the number of individuals seeking treatment for orthopedic conditions continues to rise. As a result, hospitals and medical centers in the UAE are actively recruiting and expanding their orthopedic departments to meet the growing demand.
Although healthcare recruitment agencies in Dubai, like RFS HR, readily facilitate the recruitment process in healthcare, organizations still face challenges in finding highly qualified and experienced orthopedic specialists.
This is because the demand for these professionals far exceeds the supply, leading to intense competition among healthcare facilities to attract and retain top talent.
This blog mainly focuses on understanding the orthopedic recruitment landscape in the UAE, the challenges faced by healthcare facilities in the UAE, and strategies to address these intricacies.
Understanding the Orthopedic Landscape in the UAE
The UAE’s health authorities focus on embedding new technologies to enhance their healthcare system. The country’s economy is expected to expand by 182 billion USD by 2035 due to the growing application of AI, which will also assist it in realizing its objective of emerging as the primary worldwide center for medical technology.
The population of the United Arab Emirates is growing at a rate of 8.40% per year for those over 60, which is higher than the average worldwide. This indicates a growing demand for orthopedic specialists to cater to the aging population’s needs.
Furthermore, the UAE draws patients from all over the world because of its advantageous location at the intersection of Europe, Asia, and Africa. This exposes orthopedic professionals to a diverse range of cases and cultural experiences.
The rising demand for orthopedic professionals can be easily seen in this situation, but recruiting the right professionals can be challenging. Working in such a dynamic landscape, one not only needs to be proficient in the field but also should have solid cultural competencies and relevant soft skills to succeed.
Finding this combination of skill sets can be difficult and would surely require a rigorous recruitment process and professional assistance from premium healthcare recruitment agencies in Dubai, like RFS HR.
The upcoming section will focus on the challenges of orthopedic recruitment, moving toward strategies to overcome them from expert healthcare recruiters.
Challenges Faced in Orthopedic Recruitment
- Supply-Demand Disparities
One of the main challenges faced in orthopedic recruitment is the disparity between supply and demand. As the population grows and ages, the demand for orthopedic services increases, creating a greater need for skilled professionals in the field.
A limited supply of orthopedic specialists makes it challenging to meet the growing demand. This imbalance can lead to longer patient wait times and increased pressure on existing healthcare professionals.
- Competition for Top Talent
According to a report by the Khaleej Times, medical facilities in the UAE increased by 11.5% in the first quarter of 2023, further intensifying the competition for top talent in the orthopedic field.
Hospitals and clinics are now vying for a limited pool of skilled orthopedic specialists, offering attractive incentives and benefits to attract and retain them.
This increased competition has further contributed to challenges in recruiting the required professionals.
- Cultural Considerations in Recruitment
Working in a diverse environment like the UAE requires strong cultural relevancy and adaptability. Cultural considerations in recruitment play a crucial role in ensuring the success and effectiveness of orthopedic professionals in the UAE.
Professionals who can understand and respect the cultural nuances and customs of the local population are more likely to establish a strong rapport with patients and provide customized and sensitive care.
Again, finding culturally aligned talent adds to the scarcity of professionals, which underlines the need for international healthcare executive search firms in the UAE.
Keeping these main challenges in mind, organizations should strategize accordingly to acquire talent effectively. Some of the significant strategies that can be followed in this regard are highlighted in the following section.
Strategies for Effective Orthopedic Talent Acquisition
Building Strategic Partnerships with Medical Institutions
Creating a strategic partnership with medical institutions is a practical effort toward acquiring fresh talent from the candidate market. Organizations can introduce internship programs, mentorship opportunities, and scholarship programs to attract and nurture young professionals.
By providing hands-on experience and guidance, these initiatives not only enhance the skills and knowledge of the participants but also create a pipeline of culturally aligned talent for the organization.
Utilizing Online Platforms for Targeted Orthopedic Recruitment
Sourcing is considered the most challenging part of recruiting the right fit for any position, especially in healthcare recruitment. To mitigate this challenge, one should be an expert in using online platforms and conducting different kinds of searches, like boolean searches, LinkedIn searches, database searches, etc.
These platforms facilitate locating and funneling the right talent and can be the most efficient way to interact with industry experts and potential candidates. Online platforms also help build an employer brand, communicate the organization’s values to the candidates, and understand their persona.
Showcasing Advanced Facilities and Technologies
Introducing cutting-edge technologies and facilities at your medical complexes can effectively contribute to attracting top-notch talent from the candidate market.
This will portray you as a leader in the industry and signal to potential employees that you prioritize staying ahead of the curve in terms of advancements in healthcare.
This will improve your ability to recruit the best talent and create a positive work culture and environment that values innovation and progressive thinking.
Competitive Compensation Packages and Incentives
When the competition for top talent is fierce, you should be creative in proposing opportunities and presenting lucrative packages, additional perks, and benefits.
This could include offering competitive salaries, comprehensive health insurance plans, career advancement, and professional development opportunities.
Moreover, flexible working arrangements, such as telecommuting or flexible hours, can also appeal to potential employees.
Partner With Executive Search Firm
Working with an international executive search firm like RFS HR can be the most efficient strategy for acquiring the best talent from the candidate market. These firms recruit for you and become strategic talent acquisition partners, providing full-fledged 1800 recruitment solutions.
Once you have partnered with an executive search firm specializing in localized and international recruitment, they will strategize for you and identify your organization’s specific needs and requirements.
Conclusion
Now, we have analyzed the importance of orthopedic recruitment in the Dubai healthcare industry. And have outlined the most typical difficulties the orthopedics sector faces in luring and keeping skilled workers. But to address these challenges, organizations can turn to recruitment agencies in Dubai, like RFS HR.
Organizations can ensure their orthopedic departments’ success and continued excellence by leveraging their expertise to overcome the obstacles they face in attracting top-tier talent.
If you are looking for professional assistance in recruiting healthcare experts, click here to reach out to our expert industry-specific recruiter, and follow our blog for more knowledge.
