Amman: President of the Jordan Medical Association (JMA), Issa Al-Khashashneh, has highlighted a pressing issue within the kingdom's healthcare sector, pointing to a significant imbalance between the number of medical graduates and the availability of specialized training positions. This disparity is raising concerns about rising unemployment among new doctors.
According to Jordan News Agency, Al-Khashashneh addressed graduates at the University of Jordan's School of Medicine, revealing that there are approximately 23,000 students studying medicine in Jordan and an additional 20,000 pursuing medical degrees abroad. The JMA has registered a total of 49,355 doctors since its establishment. The core issue is the bottleneck in residency programs, which results in many graduates being unable to secure essential specialized training.
Al-Khashashneh disclosed that in 2025, 4,454 doctors graduated, but only 1,040 residency slots were available, leaving over 3,400 doctors annually without the opportunity for specialized training. He described this situation as "complex unemployment." The shortage has compelled many graduates to take unpaid residency positions, a practice the JMA opposes due to long working hours and financial strain, often without health insurance or professional protections.
To tackle the surplus of general practitioners, Al-Khashashneh called for stricter labor market regulations and adherence to minimum wage standards. The JMA has set the minimum monthly salary for general practitioners at JD850 ($1,200) and JD1,500 ($2,115) for specialists. He advised graduates to consider rare medical specialties with local shortages and to acquire foreign language and digital skills like telemedicine and health data analysis to enhance their prospects in international markets.
Al-Khashashneh emphasized the need for urgent coordination between educational institutions and health authorities to ensure that the number of medical graduates aligns with the labor market and training facilities' capacity. This coordination is crucial for the sustainability of the healthcare sector.