UAE: More male nurses entering healthcare industry, despite challenges

UAE: More male nurses entering healthcare industry, despite challenges

Local healthcare groups report that they have noticed a steady increase in the number of male nurses

Published: Sat 7 Jan 2023, 8:43 PM

An increasing number of male nurses entering the healthcare industry in the UAE has added diversity and more value to the medical system, according to experts.

“I have personally experienced the benefits of male nurses in several areas of the hospital,” said Justina Nancy Mendonca, group chief nursing officer at Thumbay health care division. “They add more diversity and bring a different skill set to the existing medical system.”

Local healthcare groups report that they have noticed a steady increase in the number of male nurses in the industry. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, Burjeel Holdings is one that has seen more male nurses in the recent years.

“We have around 35 per cent male nurses,” said Rani Elsa Oommen, chief nursing officer, Burjeel Holdings. “We also have more male nurses than female nurses in some of our facilities in the industrial areas. If you compare the situation to around 30 years ago, less than 10 per cent of the nursing students were men. A few years ago, in the UAE, there were no male nurses who were Emiratis. Today, there are