Indian doctors, who have completed 20 years of service in Saudi Arabia, are likely to lose their jobs. The Kingdom has decided against renewing the contracts of foreign doctors who have completed the above service period.

''The Health Ministry has banned foreign doctors, who have completed more than 20 year's service in the Kingdom, from practicing,'' said Health Minister Dr Hamad Al Manie.

Of the 43,000 doctors working in private and public hospitals in Saudi Arabia, approximately 78 per cent are expatriates. The new policy decision aims at creating job opportunities for qualified Saudi doctors who have returned to the Kingdom after completing higher studies from foreign countries.

Heath departments in a city or region requiring the services of such doctors must get the permission of the assistant deputy minister for human resource development for the renewal of their contracts.

The Ministry of Health runs nearly 200 hospitals in addition to over 2,000 primary health care centers in the Kingdom. Plans are underway to transform government hospitals into public corporations in order to operate them commercially and improve health services. The project, which has been finalised by the ministry, will cost Rs 100 billion.