Intern doctors face Al-Qabidah

The article reveals that Al Seha Holding Company has decided to require intern doctors to pay a monthly training fee of 2,300 Riyals, totaling approximately 27,000 Riyals annually, in exchange for training at the company's affiliated hospitals. It explains that this decision is imposed on medical graduates as a mandatory one-year work in hospitals, a critical period necessary for their professional licensing and for shaping their future career paths. The article points out that the amount being demanded—up to 27,600 Riyals per year—places a significant financial burden on graduates, especially since most of their training occurs at Ministry of Health hospitals, with little transparency or clarity from the company regarding its strategic plans in the healthcare sector. The piece also criticizes the company's investment approach, viewing it as irresponsible and detrimental to the localization of healthcare jobs. It considers this decision discouraging for medical graduates, who are a vital part of the national healthcare system, particularly amidst the urgent need to increase the number of physicians and address the large gaps within the sector. The article concludes by calling for a review of this decision, citing its negative impact on the morale of graduating doctors and its potential to discourage them from continuing their professional journey.