Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has issued a circular reminding all healthcare facilities and practitioners to report suspected or confirmed cases of foodborne diseases (food poisoning) within 24 hours of identification.
The ministry said timely reporting through its electronic reporting system, SAVES, is a fundamental element in enabling the competent authorities to implement preventive and response measures promptly, helping limit the spread of disease, control potential outbreaks, and safeguard public health and community safety.
Healthcare facilities and practitioners are required to submit all required epidemiological and clinical information through the SAVES platform and extend full cooperation to surveillance and rapid response teams during epidemiological investigations whenever required.
The ministry also called on all healthcare facilities to review the guidance document attached to the circular and disseminate it to all relevant personnel within their facilities.
"The Ministry of Public Health further urges all healthcare facilities and healthcare practitioners to fully comply with communicable disease reporting requirements in accordance with the legislation, policies, and regulations in force in the State of Qatar," the circular, issued on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, stated.
The ministry also emphasized that non-compliance with communicable disease reporting requirements constitutes a violation of the applicable legislation and may result in appropriate legal action against violators.
According to the circular, the reporting requirements are based on Decree-Law No. (17) of 1990 on the Prevention of Communicable Diseases, as amended, particularly Article (2), as amended by Law No. (9) of 2020, as well as Law No. (8) of 1990 on the Regulation of Human Food Control.
