Gulf states are rapidly trying to improve their healthcare infrastructure to cope with the rise in population, wealth, age, and non-communicable diseases. Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar have all introduced mandatory health insurance and are opening up to foreign investment in healthcare. But, to what avail?

On a recent flight from Doha to London, the accident and emergencies doctor in the seat next to me revealed all about Qatar. On the promise of luxury and a high salary he quit the stress of an inner city NHS England ER, packed his bags and set off for the desert. Two weeks later he returned.

The only promise that turned out be true was the higher wage. The luxury accommodation turned out to be a small, temporary apartment and number 75 on a waiting list.

The high quality of life turned out to be a choice of large shopping malls. There was no room in the British or American schools for his young children.

As far a more relaxed environment, that too was a fallacy. In the UK, he said that 350 patients a day would typically come into ER. In Qatar that number rose four-fold to 1,500. “People come in for anything and everything. They expect doctors to be miracle workers with the ability to fix everything.”

That is when things turn ugly.

“Every week, doctors, nurses and paramedics are assaulted by families of patients.” He spoke of an incident, which made his decision to return to the UK much easier. “An ambulance driver was dragged out of his cab by two men who had noticed that he had not taken the quickest route to the hospital. The guy got three broken ribs. It wasn’t even an emergency – the patient was not in a critical state.”

He says that the police sweep such incidents under the carpet. When it comes to migrant workers, Qataris are above the law.

Until these cultural issues change, foreign nurses and doctors will go to Qatar for one thing, and one thing only, money.

The region is trying. It is building better facilities, medical schools and improved housing and schools for dependants. A recent UK BBC programme, (well worth listening to) More or Less, has exploded the myth that 4,000 migrant workers will die in the making of the Olympic stadia. In fact, Indian and Nepali workers have far higher life expectancy in Qatar than in their home countries.

But patients can’t be allowed to treat medical professionals like this. A cultural shift is necessary if these countries are to create stable healthcare systems.