Health & Education
From The Report: Jordan2015
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Jordan is one of the Middle East’s pre-eminent medical tourism destinations and a regional leader in pharmaceuticals production, with the kingdom’s efforts to attract further overseas patients set to drive growth in the private hospital segment in the coming years. Around 250,000 medical tourists visited Jordan in 2014 and this number is set to increase, with Saudi Arabia recently approving subsidies for medical treatment at Jordanian facilities. Meanwhile the country boasts high levels of education and, due to the nearly universal primary education and supplemental government programmes, the country’s literacy rate grew from 92% in 2007 to 98% in 2012, well above the average for the MENA region.

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Overview

Clean bill of health: Already a regional leader in pharmaceuticals and medical tourism, reforms are set to boost competitiveness
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As one of the Middle East’s pre-eminent medical tourism destinations and a regional leader in pharmaceuticals production, Jordan’s efforts to attract overseas patients are set to drive growth in the private hospital segment in the coming years. Hospitals Jordan had 104 hospitals in 2014, according to Ministry of Health (MoH) figures. Of these, 59 were private institutions, while the remaining 45 were run by a mix of state-backed bodies – the MoH operated 31 facilities, the military’s Jordanian…

Overview

Covering new ground: Growing student numbers and market demand are leading to more innovation in the sector
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The country boasts impressive levels of educational achievement, including nearly universal literacy and primary school enrolment, as well as high levels of university enrolment by regional standards. However, the sector does face challenges as well. These include what many argue is a mismatch between curricula and the needs of the country’s employers, compounded by a cultural preference for academic over vocational and technical education (VTE). There is also pressure on resources due to the sizeable…

Analysis

University of life: A focus on practical skills is set to benefit both the sector and the market
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While education is highly prized in Jordan, a university degree in itself does not guarantee employment. As many as 39.8% of unemployed Jordanians had a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2013, according to the most recent “Employment and Unemployment Survey”. Among the reasons for this, a frequently cited problem is a mismatch between the skills of young Jordanians entering the workforce and the needs of employers. For example, the National Employment Strategy (NES) 2011-20 noted that “the number…