Qatar celebrated World Health Day on April 7, commemorating the founding of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1948. It is also an occasion to highlight the achievements of a nation in healthcare and serves as a global awareness campaign.
This year’s theme is, ‘Together for health. Stand with science,’ which is a celebration of the power of scientific collaboration to protect the health of people, animals, plants, and the planet.
The campaign is based on two major global events: the One Health Summit on April 7, hosted by the WHO and the government of France, and the First Global Forum of WHO Collaborating Centres from April 7 to 9, which will see the participation of some 800 scientific institutions from more than 80 countries.
Qatar has made significant strides in the healthcare sector. Under the leadership of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the sector has received strong support, enabling it to develop robust foundations and world-class infrastructure. The country now boasts a network of 26 hospitals and about 60,000 healthcare professionals. Qatar’s healthcare advancements have gained global recognition, with five hospitals ranked among the world’s top 250 academic medical centres, including two within the top 100.
The country’s commitment to advancing healthcare stems from a national vision that places people at the heart of its development priorities. The primary healthcare in Qatar has emerged as a leading model regionally and internationally, supported by strategic investment in human health and the development of an integrated system, delivering high-quality preventive, curative, and rehabilitative services in a safe and competitive environment. The National Health Strategy 2024-2030 has outlined three key priorities: improving population health and well-being, achieving excellence in service delivery and patient experience, and ensuring system efficiency and resilience.
Qatar’s healthcare sector continues to advance steadily in global rankings. The country ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa region and 18th globally in the 2025 Health Care Index, according to Numbeo. This ranking underscores the high quality of healthcare services in Qatar, driven by innovation and the adoption of the latest global practices in alignment with the Third National Development Strategy. Besides, Qatar has received the WHO’s Healthy Cities accreditation for all eight of its municipalities, the first country to receive it nationwide. Similar accreditations have also been granted to Qatar University and Education City, highlighting Qatar’s health-in-all-policy approach.
