By Fazeena Saleem
DOHA: Al Thumama Health Centre, equipped with advanced facilities and equipment, was opened on Tuesday by Minister of Public Health H E Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari.
Dr Mariam Abdulmalik, Managing Director, Public Health Care Corporation (PHCC), and other officials were present. The centre offers specialised services, including some which are not available in other health centres. It is expected to reduce pressure at some clinics of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and neighbouring health centres.
Dr Al Kuwari toured the centre and was briefed on services and specialised clinics providing medical care to patients.
It has family medicine, vaccinations, communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, pregnant women care, ENT (ear, nose and throat), dental, ophthalmology, dermatology and mental health clinics.
Additional services include physiotherapy, and smoking cessation and nutrition clinics, among others. Laboratory and pharmacy services, X-ray and ultrasound, and home care services will also be available at the centre which aims to serve residents of Nuaija, Hilal and Mamoura, among others.
“The centre can serve up to 55,000 people. At present we have about 5,000 people registered. The centre will help reduce the rush at overcrowded health centres in Airport and Um Ghwailena,” Dr Samya Al Abdullah, Executive Director, Operations Department, PHCC, said on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony.
Ten clinics will work in the morning and 10 in the evening. These include two chronic disease clinics, dental clinics, ophthalmology clinics, dermatology clinic, and mental health services. A gym will support physiotherapy services.
“The specialised clinics and services will also reduce the rush at HMC clinics,” said Dr Al Abdullah.
Mammography and cookery classes are special features to be introduced soon. “As part of the nutrition clinic, we will soon have cookery classes and teach healthy cooking,” said Dr Al Abdullah.
The Clinical Information System (CIS) has been implemented at the centre and patient records are available digitally. There are 45 clinics at the centre to provide regular and specialised services.
A total of 5,037 people, including 1,077 Qataris, from neighbouring areas have registered and the centre has started receiving appointments. Its 80 percent of services will be provided through the appointment system. Patients can call hotline 107 and make appointments. Spread over an area of about 8,000sqm, the centre can accommodate up to 10,000 visitors in the first year. When fully operational, it will cater to 20,000 to 30,000 patients. It will have 220 medical and administrative staff.
It is the first of the three health centres planed by PHCC. The Rawdath Al Khail centre is scheduled for opening this month and will provide wellness services, along with healthcare like the recently opened Labaib health Centre. The Umm Salal Centre is expected to open in July and will replace the existing health centre in the area.The Peninsula
