Job Discussion Forums

[firepup.rm]

I am a 28 year old Paramedic considering a contract administrative postition with Emergency Medical Services division of the Hamad Medical Corporation. Does anyone have any experience or advice with the hospital or the corporation? I would like to know how they treat their employees, what is your general impression of the staff at the hospital, and what the turnover rate is. If you would prefer to PM me that would be great. I am sure I will be back here looking for more advice, as the posts I have found so far have been quite helpful.

Thanks,

Allen

[veiledsentiments]

Hi Allen,

Just in case you didn't notice, this is a teacher's board and few of us have much experience with hospitals and their staffs (if we are lucky). So you may have trouble getting specific information about the employer or job. But feel free to join into the 'life in Qatar' discussions.

Just a general detail as relates to the hospitals that I have seen around the Gulf... and this seems to be standard. Most employees in hospitals come from the subcontinent and the Phillipines - and tend to be overworked, underpaid, and generally treated rather badly by our standards.

For instance, I was hospitalized in Oman at their best hospital (very posh... British and Canadian doctors back then...). The same young Indian man brought my tea and meals 4 times a day like clockwork. On the 8th day I asked him when he had a day off. He told me that after 4 years, he would get a month off and a ticket home. Until then, he worked 7 days a week, 365 days a year... for 12 - 14 hours per day. ... all for about 5% of what I was earning, which wasn't that glorious either. That said, he was thrilled with his job and was very professional... (reporting to the dietician when I didn't eat my meals who then came up to discuss why... and adjusted my food accordingly). He was effusive about how he was so happy to have a job in such a beautiful hospital... air conditioned... and he only had to share his bedroom with 5 other men... and could send all his money home to his family.

It's a different world over there...

VS