Natural Shields

What are some of the success indicators seen in local healthcare provision of late, and what innovations can we expect to see in the medium term?

The National Health Strategy (NHS) has grown over the past two years, and with this growth has come more detailed planning, as well as a 27% rise in outputs. The NHS is building the foundations for long-term sustainable change in the health sector. Better governance, a comprehensive primary care strategy, the initial phase of social health insurance, the establishment of the Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners, and a strategy for laboratory integration and standardization are some of the main landmarks of our efforts. We will shortly launch a public appointment system, open 18 new health centers, increase the number of rehabilitation beds available across Qatar, and open a new 200-bed physical medicine and rehabilitation hospital in 2015. We are also due to publish a national mental health strategy. Finally, a strategy for community pharmacies will improve patient access to pharmaceuticals at a wide range of convenient locations.

How will the new approaches to healthcare in Qatar attempt to address lifestyle issues?

The establishment of clinical guidelines for Qatar based on international best practice is also something people can expect to see, as we move from a curative approach in healthcare to a preventative one. In that regard, a national action plan for tobacco will target smoking and enhance the enforcement of the new tobacco law when decreed. Similarly, we are developing national dietary guidelines to encourage healthy nutrition. We are also planning the development of robust occupational health and safety guidelines to mitigate related diseases and hazards. For parents, there will be a breastfeeding and complimentary feeding education program to support new families. Finally, Qataris can also expect to see more effective patient advocacy services, as well as the establishment of e-health services.

How is the Department of Research of the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) helping the country become a center of research excellence?

Qatar has embarked on an ambitious research program to allocate 2.8% of its GDP to research, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030. The SCH plays a central role in setting forth the research governance framework within the health R&D ecosystem in Qatar. This framework aims at the coordination of research activities, the allocation of funds, and the development of a stakeholder exchange mechanism across the spectrum of biomedical research, clinical research, public health research, and public policy. The Department has developed a number of policies and regulations for conducting research on human subjects, the use of stem cells and gene transfer in humans, and also clinical effectiveness research, a fact recognized by the publication of BMC Medical Ethics 2012.

How is the Ministry helping to increase awareness of family planning and the prevention of endemic diseases?

There are no endemic communicable diseases in Qatar. We have one of the lowest incidence rates of HIV and malaria, and we are working to strengthen tuberculosis control. In terms of endemic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), we do have a high prevalence of diabetes (17%), high blood pressure (32.9% for adults aged between 18 and 64), and other risk factors, such as obesity (more than 40%) and smoking (16.4% for both sexes). As more than 60% of deaths are due to NCDs, SCH is working on different awareness programs targeting nutrition, physical activity, healthy lifestyles, and smoking cessation.