The Royal Medical Services (RMS) signed a joint cooperation agreement for residency and fellowship programmes in surgery with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, an exclusive agreement dedicated to resident physicians from the Royal Medical Services.

His Excellency Brigadier (Professor) Fahad Khalifa Al Khalifa, Commander of the Royal Medical Services, signed the agreement with Professor Deborah McNamara, President of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), while attending the meeting of the Board of Governors of RCSI Medical University of Bahrain.

The agreement stipulated the launch of a joint training programme for residency and fellowship programmes in surgery in various specialties, which will be implemented through all hospitals and medical centres of the Royal Medical Services (Bahrain Defence Force Military Hospital, King Hamad University Hospital, Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa Cardiac Specialist Center, Bahrain Oncology Center, His Highness Shaikh Abdullah bin Khalid Center for Nephrology and Crown Prince Center for Medical Training and Research) in line with the standards of British and Irish specialised fellowships, the Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme (ISCP) and the requirements of the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS).

Accordingly, His Excellency Brigadier (Professor) Fahad Khalifa Al Khalifa, expressed his appreciation for the fruitful cooperation, stressing the concerted efforts to train and develop professional competencies, improve medical performance and ensure compliance with national and international standards, which will positively reflect on improving the quality of healthcare in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The agreement also mentioned the exchange of experiences between the two parties by providing the opportunity for trainees from the Royal Medical Services to complete practical education and training using simulation and supporting surgical skills at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.