INTEGRATED CARE FOR ALL
PHCC is committed to improving the health of Qataris through preventative attention and care, with localized treatment clinics and panels on healthy choices.
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Mariam Alabdulmalik is the Managing Director of PHCC, running over 27 health centers across Qatar. As PHCC leader, Dr. Alabdulmalik is responsible for implementing Qatar's national primary healthcare strategy with a focus on primary care as the foundation for enhancing health and wellbeing. She completed her academic fellowship in family medicine at the University of Toronto, Canada, and holds an MBA. Dr. Alabdulmalik is one of the core leaders of health care services in Qatar, with more than 25 years of expertise and experience in health systems management and has held several leadership positions since 2001.
What is the focus of PHCC regarding the increased health level of the country?
Evidence shows that health systems oriented toward primary care achieve better health outcomes for lower overall costs. This is an important phase of PHCC's development, as we continue to tackle several national health challenges. Qatari life expectancy has been constantly improving, and in the coming decades, the quality of life for Qataris is at risk due to their changing lifestyles. Although there is already a high prevalence of chronic conditions and associated risk factors, the best way to a healthy population is to focus on wellness and prevention, and having comprehensive primary healthcare service. PHCC has placed significant emphasis on developing safe, high-quality health services across all our centers. In 2018, we received the International Diamond Accreditation by Accreditation Canada. As an organization, PHCC is encouraged by its achievements under the national primary healthcare strategy. We have upgraded and opened new primary care facilities, enhanced and delivered eight transformative models of care to meet the greatest health needs of our communities, and strengthened the capacity and capability of our workforce through additional investment, staff development and training. We have also participated in sector-wide discussions and planning forums, placing primary care as the first and continuous point of care in the health system. Our vision is ambitious, detailed, and achievable. We have already increased our focus on prevention and wellness by creating a new preventative healthcare directorate as part of an improved organizational structure. We have strengthened our clinical leadership and created a new AMD Directorate for quality and workforce development. The new National Health Strategy calls for a future family medicine model of care based on better system collaboration across the whole sector and improved access to more comprehensive services in the community.
What are the areas set for improvement for the upcoming year?
Prevention is the main pillar of our strategy. There are five focus groups: children, mothers, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with chronic diseases. Our programs are aligned with the needs of these groups using preventative measures. Patients have easy access to care at our facilities as well as at home. Doctors are supported by multi-disciplinary teams to accomplish this goal, focusing on providing patient-centered care, as the relationships between doctors, their teams, and patients is key to the success of any healthcare system. We are also introducing technology and innovation to ensure ease of access, with plans to launch a PHCC mobile app. Currently, patients can get information on the patient portal about their health status. To further enhance partnership with patients, our patient engagement team hosts discussions that empower the patient and allow them to take greater responsibility for their health.
What is the relevance of preventive care to avoid future diseases?
The 30 targets set in the National Health Strategy are our reference points over the next five years to minimize emergency room visits. We will do this by having strong family medicine and primary healthcare services established in the country. We offer patients access to healthcare before they are sick, with facilities closer to their homes. We want to provide easy access to appointments and follow-ups, bringing more diagnostic services to the community. Ideally, the hospital should only be used for critical cases and acute illnesses.
What are the next practical steps for PHCC?
Our vision is to be the leader in transforming the wellbeing of people in Qatar by changing the way healthcare is provided. To enable this, we will strengthen our engagement with key partners across the health system to shift the balance of care from curative, hospital-based treatment to enhanced preventative health and wellness services in the community. This will better align healthcare and resources toward an approach of integrated care, with a focus on empowering people to make informed decisions for their health.
INTEGRATED CARE FOR ALL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Interview
Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida, CEO, Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority
Given its successful performance in the last few years, QFC is optimistic it will be able to capitalize on Qatar's ongoing efforts to create a world-class business environment and attract more global companies.
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Lolwah R M Al-Khater, Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is focused on pushing forward Qatar's foreign policy, sharing information and perspectives that could be useful for regional security and advancing the Qatari narratives on many issues facing the world today.
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Richard O’Kennedy, Vice President, Research, Development, and Innovation, Qatar Foundation
The first country in the world to track its citizens' genomes, Qatar is on track to make one of modern science's biggest breakthroughs by personalizing medical treatment and precision care.
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Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti, Minister, Transport and Communications (MoTC)
With plans for a fully electric bus system and an impressive set of interconnected transportation options including metro, rail, and tram, the Ministry of Transport and Communication is shifting mobility into the next gear in Qatar.
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Sheikh Abdulla Bin Saoud Al Thani, Governor, Qatar Central Bank (QCB)
Encouraging local manufacturing, initiating self-sufficiency in dairy and farm products, expanding into new air and sea routes, offering select visa-free entry, and enacting fiscal reforms are but several of the successful reforms undertaken since 2017.
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Sean Kelly, Project Director, Place Vendôme
Place Vendôme is no ordinary mall: with 650 hotel rooms, a 6,000-sqm cinema with 18 screens, six slides, three toboggan runs, and an ice river opening in September 2020, it is looking to slide into Qatar's tourism infrastructure in time for the World Cup.
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Mehmed Zingal, General Manager, Turkish Airlines - Qatar
With its 30th year celebration of its Miles&Smiles club launch in Qatar, Turkish Airlines is acknowledging its continued diligence to provide the best customer service, with targets to increase customer happiness through innovative technologies and increasing tourism to Qatar for the future.
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Hassan Rashid Al-Derham, President, Qatar University (QU)
Ranked in the top-500 universities by the Times Higher Education, Qatar University improves students' academic success by supporting students throughout their academic lifecycle, from the pre-university stage to beyond graduation.
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A lesson learned
The international attention set to fall on Qatar over the coming years is significant only to the extent that it generates advances in human capital required by Qatar's blueprint, National Vision 2020, where local know-how and innovation advance the nation and promote wellbeing.
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Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health & Managing Director,, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC)
The health minister is committed to continuing the growth of Qatar's healthcare system, with plans for more than 20 new facilities specializing in pediatrics, geriatrics, and mental health.
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