Qatar Chamber’s Health Committee members reviewing the efforts taken by the private sector to combat COVID-19.
Doha: Qatar Chamber’s (QC) Health Committee has held its first meeting this year to discuss means of efforts exerted by the private sector for confronting the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The meeting was presided over by QC Board Member and Chairperson of the Committee Ibtihaj al Ahmadani in the presence of the Director of Facilities Licensing at the Ministry Nora Abdulla al Mulla and Khalid Al Emadi, the Committee’s Vice Chairman.
The meeting reviewed government requirements from the private sector to support the state’s procedures in dealing with the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the role of the private sector in combating the virus and the private sector’s preparedness to provide relevant medical supplies.
On her part, Ibtihaj al Ahmadani stressed the role played by the committee in addressing issues related to the private health sector, noting that it contacts with all concerned bodies in the country to face any obstacles.
She praised the Public Health Ministry’s interaction with the Committee’s efforts to streamline the business environment of the private health sector during the current circumstances.
Al Ahmadani also emphasized that the committee seeks to highlight the preventive role of the private health sector through raising community awareness and dissemination of health culture of staff and visitors to health centers and hospitals to reduce the spread of the virus.
She affirmed the importance of enhancing communication between the Ministry and the private health sector to help centers and hospitals learn about the latest developments and instructions issued by the official authorities in the country.
Al Ahmadani stressed the importance of not circulating information except those that are officially issued by the Government Communication Office.
She noted that the committee prepared a proposal of action plan including preventive actions for tackling the virus, pointing out to that it would be circulated to hospitals and medical centers soon.
Khalid Al Emadi noted that the Committee praised efforts made by the committee to contribute to the State’s efforts to counter the virus spread.
Underlining the importance of the proposed plan of action prepared by the Committee in deal with the virus, Al Emadi noted that it administrative, medical, awareness and operational sustainability procedures.
On her part, Director of Facilities Licensing at the Ministry Nora al Mulla said that she represented a link between the governmental and private sector, affirming that the Minister H E Dr Hanan Al Kuwari and the Ministry’s staff are continuously working to improve the business environment of the private sector to play its part in serving this vital sector.
Al Mulla also said that the Communicable Disease Center (CDC) under Hamad Medical Corporation is the authorized institution in the state to treat patients suspected of the Coronavirus, noting that hospitals and centers only do the initial assessment of cases and transfer them to the CDC.
The meeting also discussed price of medical services submitted in private hospitals and health centers. Al Mulla said that the Ministry approves prices offered by centers and hospitals so that these prices include the authorized services only and in case of cancellation they should be deleted immediately by centers and hospitals.
