Restructuring graduate medical education to meet the health care needs of emirati citizens

Abstract

Many nations are struggling with the design, implementation, and ongoing improvement of health care systems to meet the needs of their citizens. In the United Arab Emirates, a small nation with vast wealth, the lives of average citizens have evolved from a harsh, nomadic existence to enjoyment of the comforts of modern life. Substantial progress has been made in the provision of education, housing, health, employment, and other forms of social advancement. Having covered these basic needs, the government of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, is responding to the challenge of developing a comprehensive health system to serve the needs of its citizens, including restructuring the nation's graduate medical education (GME) system. We describe how Abu Dhabi is establishing GME policies and infrastructure to develop and support a comprehensive health care system, while also being responsive to population health needs. We review recent progress in developing a systematic approach for developing GME infrastructure in this small emirate, and discuss how the process of designing a GME system to meet the needs of Emirati citizens has benefited from the experience of "Western" nations. We also examine the challenges we encountered in this process and the solutions adopted, adapted, or specifically developed to meet local needs. We conclude by highlighting how our experience "at the GME drawing board" reflects the challenges encountered by scholars, administrators, and policymakers in nations around the world as they seek to coordinate health care and GME resources to ensure care for populations.

FIGURE 1

Number of Specialty Physicians per 100 000 Population for Abu Dhabi Compared to International Examples– Source: Abu Dhabi Data: Department of Health Professional Licensing, HAAD 2010; International Data: United States and Australia.–

FIGURE 2

Aspects of the Educational System that Contribute to Observed Workforce Deficiencies

FIGURE 3

Percentage Distribution of United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Expatriate Physicians Practicing in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, 2012 Abbreviation: ENT, ear, nose, and throat (Otolaryngology). Source: Department of Health Professional Licensing, Health Authority Abu Dhabi.

FIGURE 4

Number of Accredited Positions, Number of Applications, and Number of Match Residents, Compared to Prior Years and After Implementation of TANSEEQ Source: Department of Health Professional Licensing, Health Authority Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.