Study shows how Qatar managed large gatherings during Covid-19

A study by two researchers has highlighted the importance of project management and Qatar’s effective and safe management of large gatherings during the Covid-19 pandemic as well as its efficient administration of vaccines to a large population.The study by Yasmin Ali Morad and Arun Chandrashekhar from Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) highlights three specific large gatherings during the period and how project management has been effectively carried out by PHCC on all of them. In an article published on Qscience.com, they note that the country was able rise to the challenges with very efficient project management measures, as the Covid-19 pandemic tested the limits of national public health infrastructures to an unprecedented extent. The researchers evaluated three case studies in project management implemented by PHCC over the course of 2020 and 2021: Covid-19 screening for HH the Amir Cup and Asian Football Confederation Champions League finals 2020, the FIFA Club World Cup 2020, and Qatar's National Covid-19 Mass Vaccination Project at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) in 2021. They describe that each project described in this case series can be considered a success from a public health standpoint. This success was achieved through the implementation of strong project management practices developed and adopted by the Corporate Project Management Office at PHCC.According to their findings, the key themes arising from the three projects include the importance of developing a strategic plan, project management planning, clarifying and communicating roles and responsibilities, situational decision making, strong leadership, flexibility, result orientation in implementing the project, strong logistical support for providing necessary resources on the ground, and ensuring that staff at all levels are fully supported in performing their duties. In addition, the project management team was successful in building knowledge and experience across events with each successive project benefiting from lessons learned from previous projects. As a result of the strong record of project management established over the course of these experiences, PHCC was able to successfully manage the mass vaccination project with a high level of efficiency in comparison to similar national programmes implemented elsewhere, both regionally and globally. The researchers conclude that the successful implementation of these projects, maintaining a high level of client and staff safety and satisfaction, demonstrates the value of project planning and continuous monitoring in successful implementation even in the context of uncertain conditions such as a global pandemic. They suggest that public and community health authorities may benefit by applying similar principles as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to unfold.The study concludes that these experiences highlight the importance of developing an institutional culture that embodies the principles of change. The challenges of managing these major public health projects in the context of a global pandemic were met largely because of the capacity of the organisation to take an agile and adaptable project management approach. The necessity to adapt in response to unanticipated changes was built into the strategic planning process as well as into the operational protocols put into place during implementation.The study also recommends that there are a number of key considerations when planning for similar public health projects or any mass gathering sports events. A major suggestion is that investment in planning is critical in stable and crisis conditions. Although time may be of the essence, with the right people, tools, and support, effective planning can always be done.It also highlights the need to ensure consistent and strong leadership support as well as to certify that project governance is well developed and communicated, which could include defined roles and responsibilities for all team members.The researchers also point out the need to utilise project management tools and mindset to plan and implement in uncertain, complex, and dynamic conditions, both at strategic and operational levels, as projects usually bring changes. They argue for the need to pursue cross-sectoral collaboration during planning to ensure smooth collaboration on project goals and to reduce the potential for logistical supply chain and authority disruption.