Aster DM Healthcare has extended its Aster DM Apprentice programme, that aims at providing a platform for young healthcare professionals to showcase their skill sets and upgrade knowledge, and be a part of the growth healthcare industry in the region.

The decision to extend the medical training initiative has been taken to meet the overwhelming response received since its launch at the Arab Health Congress and Exhibition in January, said a statement.

The candidates registered with the programme get the opportunity to work as trainees for a duration of six months under the senior management of Aster DM Healthcare, including its chairman and managing director Dr Azad Moopen.

Upon completion of the training period, successful candidates will be offered placement opportunities in Aster DM Healthcare.

“We are pleased to extend the Aster Apprentice programme, which would contribute to the UAE’s healthcare sector significantly in terms of developing the right human resources to meet the current requirements of the industry,” said Dr Moopen.

“Hundreds of healthcare professionals and aspiring students have come back to us wanting to be part of the programme after the conclusion of the Arab Health,” he said.

“We launched the programme as part of our commitment to support innovation and development of the region’s healthcare industry. Though our initial plan was to limit the Apprentice platform only during the Arab Health event, the overwhelming response and enquiries made us rethink and extend this great initiative. We would want more people, especially the UAE nationals, to participate in the programme and become part of one of the fastest growing sectors in the region, and become a part of the Aster DM Healthcare family,” he added.

“The demand for healthcare employees in the region remains high for several years. Currently, healthcare providers face a range of workforce issues in this part of the world. There is significant shortage of healthcare professionals in certain occupations, specialisations and geographic regions,” said Dr Moopen.

“The programme would train candidates who showcase significant potential as a combination of skill set, attitude, grit index and overall commitment to push through barriers to learn from the leaders in healthcare to then become torchbearers themselves for tomorrow’s healthcare sector,” he added.

The first edition of the Aster DM Apprentice programme provided competency-based models to hundreds of healthcare professionals of different nationalities.

Aster DM Healthcare will continue hosting the training programme in the next three years consecutively, through the 2016 and 2017 editions of the Arab Health Congress, said the statement.

The programme addresses the shortage of skilled professionals - specialist doctors, trained nurses, medical technicians and healthcare management talents - in the healthcare industry, it added. - TradeArabia News Service