Qatar marked the World Health Day this week on April 7. The World Health Organization’s World Health Day theme of ‘Universal Health Coverage’ highlights the importance of ensuring that everyone can obtain the care they need, where and when they need it, without financial hardship. Qatar is doing exactly this.
The focus of the World Health Day is on equity and solidarity — on raising the bar for health for everyone, everywhere by addressing gaps in services, and leaving no one behind. The tagline for World Health Day is: Health for all – everyone, everywhere. And Qatar is always featured in the top league when it comes to health care.
The commitment to providing the best health care to every patient, regardless of their nationality, puts Qatar in the top quartile on the WHO–World Bank index for universal health coverage. Qatar was also ranked 5th in the world for health by the Legatum Institute, a London-based think tank, earlier this year. It is also worth mentioning that Qatar is the only country in the region to score in the top five on the annual prosperity index.
Health for all is possible and it starts with a strong primary health care. Primary health care is a whole-of-society approach to health and well-being centred on the needs and preferences of individuals, families and communities. Qatar is always given primary healthcare its due importance. The Primary Health Care Corporation in the country is the excellent example of the global standard of health-care system. One of the main goals of PHCC is mentioned as excellence in health services, facilities and infrastructure by being the first and continuous point of contact for high quality, accessible and safe primary health care services.
Last year the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) launched a set of new guidelines aimed at helping people understand how to access healthcare services in Qatar. These will empower the public by clearly outlining what services each provider offers, how to get an appointment, and how to choose the right service for their needs. The guides were developed by the MoPH in collaboration with HMC, PHCC, and Sidra Medicine.
Qatar is always expanding its healthcare system to meet growing patient needs. In 2018, it opened Hazm Mebaireek General Hospital and a dedicated Surgical Specialty Center. Last year also saw the official opening of the Tobacco Control Center, a new Stroke Service Unit, and the launch of a number of new services that are improving patient care.
It’s clearly a laudable thing that the Qatari government had invested a lot to make health for all a reality. And it is committed to make progress in increasing capacity and advancing the quality of care extended to patients from all walks of life.
