09-05-2021

On Sunday morning, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Labour and Social Development and the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) to license quality training institutions in the health sector. The agreement was signed by His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development, Mr. Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, and the Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Regulatory Authority, Dr. Mariam Adhbi Al-Jalahma, in His Excellency’s office, in the presence of several officials from both the Ministry and the Authority. The Memorandum of Understanding aims to integrate and advance the vocational training system in the health sector by enabling investors to license specialised training institutions in the same field that offer professional qualifications contributing to the development of healthcare workers’ skills. It also provides an opportunity for job seekers to acquire advanced training that facilitates access to promising employment opportunities in the health sector. The Memorandum stipulates that the Ministry of Labour and Social Development shall receive and review investors’ applications to establish private training institutions in the health field, after consulting the technical opinion of the National Health Regulatory Authority regarding the licensing process. This coordination aims to ensure integration, validate the type and credibility of the qualifications offered, and assess the suitability of training locations for practical application in a manner that achieves the intended objectives. On this occasion, Humaidan stressed the importance of fostering optimal investment in Bahraini human capital by creating an environment conducive to private sector investment in healthcare, and encouraging the training of qualified personnel to integrate them into specialised roles in the labour market. He highlighted the need to equip them with the technical and technological skills required to make Bahrainis the preferred choice for employment across establishments. He affirmed that signing the Memorandum will enhance investment opportunities in specialised vocational training and consolidate Bahrain’s position as a regional centre for training across various occupational sectors. For her part, Dr. Al-Jalahma affirmed that the Memorandum will support training initiatives and encourage the establishment of further specialised training centres in the health services sector. She noted the presence of many capable national human resources that the Authority aims to employ in various health professions. She also underscored the importance of supporting this direction by attracting investment into the sector, creating promising opportunities for investors through the establishment of training institutes and centres in health support services, which in turn provide appropriate employment opportunities for citizens. The signing of this Memorandum represents the culmination of the efforts of the Licensing Committee for the Establishment of Vocational Training Institutions in the Health Sector, which comprises all relevant entities — namely the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA), the Education & Training Quality Authority, the College of Health Sciences, and the Labour Fund (Tamkeen). Together, these entities have developed the frameworks and standards governing the licensing of vocational training institutions in the health sector, including criteria for accrediting training locations and programmes, the administrative and training bodies, and other regulatory procedures that contribute to organising the licensing process in accordance with precise standards.