Vezeeta, a healthcare platform operating in the Middle East and Africa (MEA), has announced plans to step up its recruitment drive in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kenya and Nigeria.

The new employees will join the organization remotely, as Vezeeta’s offices in the region remain closed. They will fill positions to support the company’s online pharmacy business, as well as product, data analytics, engineering and other functions.

“Given the increased need for digital healthcare solutions, telehealth and online pharmacy in light of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, the recruitment drive [in the region] aims to meet the rising consumer demand and support local governments in combating the adverse economic impact and healthcare crisis presented by the pandemic,” the company said in a statement on Monday.

With its offices closed, the company will screen job applicants through virtual interviews and online tryouts. The recruitment has already started and, so far, there are 45 to 50 vacancies up for grabs, a spokesperson told Zawya.

The number of roles to fill is subject to increase in the coming weeks, the source added.

Last February, the firm managed to raise a $40 million Series D funding round led by Gulf Capital, a UAE-based company. The new capital was intended to support plans to introduce new products, including online pharmacy and telehealth services.

Prior to the outbreak, the platform had approximately four million patients across four countries. Its customers are able to search and book medial experts through the platform, as well as provide honest reviews of physicians.

Since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, millions of people worldwide have lost their jobs. In the UAE, major companies like Emirates and Etihad have also announced huge job cuts.

Despite the grim outlook, recruitment continues in other companies, as employers look to fill roles that can support their long-term strategy, as well as e-commerce business. Among the most in-demand at the moment are professionals with IT and finance background, as well as those who can work in essential industries, like fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG).

“The demand for IT roles remain strong as the businesses are having to either rapidly evolve their digital transformation journey to adopt an e-commerce strategy or support their employees to work from home,” Gareth El Mettouri, associate director of Robert Half UAE, told Zawya earlier.

“We are also seeing a constant demand for financial director and chief financial officer positions to be filled… Healthcare, government utility companies, including power, FMCG an food-based businesses, continue to hire at this time,” he added.

Remote working

It’s not clear yet when Vezeeta will resume operations at its offices, but the company said it will take a phased approach to reopening.

However, Bérengère Dumont, the company’s vice president of People & Culture, said their extensive experience with flexible and remote working has helped them swiftly respond to the pandemic.

“Since instating work-from-home model across its footprint in March 2020, Vezezeta has been championing the well-being of its employees by introducing new initiatives to boost and maintain hyper-productivity and morale,” said Dumont.

(Reporting by Cleofe Maceda; editing by Seban Scaria)

cleofe.maceda@refinitiv.com

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