Qatar launches its national primary healthcare strategy

Dr Abdulmalik presents a copy of the strategy to the HE the Minister of Health  Abdulla bin Khalid al-Qahtani, who is also the  secretary general of the Supreme Council of Health, receiving a copy of the document of the National Primary Health Care Strategy 2013-2018,  at an event at the Qatar National Convention Centre,  while Prof Darzi look on. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil..

By Noimot Olayiwola/Staff Reporter

Qatar yesterday launched its National Primary Healthcare Strategy 2013-2018 to help face future challenges.

It was designed by the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) in accordance with the principles of Qatar National Vision 2030 and Qatar National Health Strategy 2011-2016.

Eight goals are marked in the strategy. They are health promotion; screening; urgent care; chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs); home care; mental health; and maternal, newborn,  children and adolescents.

Divided into seven chapters, the strategy document  looks at Qatar’s major health needs and how they could be met.

Tied to the strategy are some 10 pledges made by the PHCC: among them are the commitment to publish annual reports showing how they are assessing and meeting patients’ needs and  to provide continuity of care by ensuring that all patients have a doctor they can see regularly.

PHCC looks at screening as a tool to prevent diseases by early detection and aims at offering home-care services for the elderly by 2014-2015.

Health centres have the goal to give  quality customer services in a safe environment, with  qualified practitioners, automated systems and improved professional approach.

HE the Minister of Health Abdullah bin Khalid al-Qahtani received a copy of the strategy document at the launch event at the Qatar National Convention Centre.

“The national strategy aims to improve the quality of care for patients, minimise waiting times, reduce referral time and, alongside that, introduce an effective appointment system,” al-Qahtani, who is also the  secretary general of the Supreme Council of Health, said  in his opening address. “This will ensure not only greater efficiency but also greater attention for patients’ individual needs.”   

He stated that the PHCC’s establishment  as a free-standing corporation in 2012 had given it the status it deserved as a major part of Qatar’s health system. He observed that the main public provider of public health in Qatar had far too long been the weak link in Qatar’s health system and that the country currently devoted a smaller proportion of its health budget to primary health centres than the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average.

“We will seek to change this by  increasing funding for primary healthcare in the short term to support the implementation of this strategy and in the longer term by ensuring that social health insurance recognises and rewards the importance of primary healthcare,” he said.

Al-Qahtani expected  Qatar to devote the same proportion of its health budget to primary healthcare as the OECD average by 2018.

PHCC managing director Dr Mariam Ali Abdulmalik stressed that the strategy, which is a road map for the PHCC staff, was “an opportunity to make a real difference in the health of the nation”.

The official maintained that there were a lot of misconceptions about the PHCC among the public and stated that the launch of the strategy would help correct such  notions.

“There is a need to raise awareness among the community about the roles of the PHCC and its health centres which are not just there to treat cold and influenza;  their role include providing services in terms of home healthcare, maternal care, mental healthcare, child care as well as other services and we hope that the launch of this strategy will help us redefine our roles,” she said during a panel discussion held later.

Also at the event, Primary Care Strategy Steering Group co-chair and Supreme Council of Health board member Lord Prof Ara Darzi spoke about London’s experience in implementing strategic change in its health services over the past six years.

HE al-Qahtani delivering the opening speech.