Yemeni Hospitals Rely on Foreign Doctors as Local Staff Shortages Continue

Ahmed Nagi, a man in his 50s from Taiz governorate, can no longer work after developing liver complications two years ago. The former porter, who supported a family of seven through more than 30 years at al-Turbah market, now relies on a walking stick and sometimes cannot move at all. Nagi cannot afford medicine and was advised by non-specialist doctors to seek care in Sanaa or Aden.

“I was told by doctors, who are not liver specialists, that my liver isn’t functioning properly, but they weren’t sure if that is the root problem. It has left me barely able to walk, and sometimes I can’t move at all,” he told Al Jazeera. Taha Nabil, 45, from al-Shimayateen district in the same governorate, lost vision in his right eye after cataract surgery performed locally.

He now needs $4,000 for further ophthalmology treatment and has been unable to locate a qualified specialist he can afford. Yemen’s health system shows acute shortfalls. The World Health Organization reports that 18 percent of districts lack doctors entirely.

The World Bank places the physician ratio at 0.1 per 1,000 people. Al Jazeera reported that at least 20 million Yemenis lack access to basic medical care and at least half of health facilities are non-functional. Dr Ismail al-Hamoudi stated that 41 percent of medical staff in Taiz governorate have been displaced or left the country.

Dr Abdulkareem Mubarak identified low income and irregular salary payments as the main drivers of staff migration. Hospitals have recruited foreign doctors, including from Syria, to address gaps. On June 12, Syrian doctors Samer Ahmed Hassan and Dr Samaher al-Mousa were killed in crossfire at the Aden governor’s residence.

Syrian orthopaedist Dr Ahmed, who arrived in Yemen three years ago, performs around ten major operations per month in Taiz governorate.