Lawmakers push for local hires in pharmacy sector

TDT | Manama

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A proposal to create more jobs for Bahrainis in the pharmacy sector is gaining momentum, aiming to prioritise local hires and reduce reliance on foreign staff.

The Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee has backed a motion put forward by MPs Jaleela Alawi, Dr Hesham Al Ashiri, Mamdouh Al Saleh, Mohsen Al Asbool, and Mahmood Fardan.

MP Jaleela Alawi highlighted that a rising number of qualified Bahraini pharmacy graduates face hiring hurdles while overseas expertise continues to be brought in. She noted that 278 Bahrainis with pharmacy degrees currently have active state applications, while just 273 staff are employed in government pharmacies.

The MPs say the proposal aims to expand pharmacy roles in the government health sector, increase local employment, cut unemployment, and reduce reliance on expatriate labour.

Ministry data point to unmet demand. The Ministry of Health reports 273 employees working in pharmacies across primary healthcare centres and public hospitals. The Ministry of Labour lists 42 pharmacy jobseekers on its 2024 rolls, while the Civil Service Bureau confirms 278 active applications from Bahrainis with bachelor’s degrees in pharmacy—196 of whom are insured in the private sector, representing 70.5 per cent.

Supporters argue that hiring locally would strengthen medicine security across manufacturing, distribution, and specialist advisory roles. They also want national universities to expand specialist pharmacy programmes aligned with market needs, alongside investment in training to build a steady pipeline of Bahraini pharmacists.

Alawi said increasing posts would help reduce youth unemployment, improve the cultural fit of services, and direct spending toward developing national talent.