Healthcare sector fully prepared for World Cup Qatar: Dr al-Mohamed

Chair of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Health Strategic Command Group Dr Ahmed al-Mohamed said that Qatar's healthcare sector is ready to support the nation's hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 through the provision of a comprehensive range of healthcare services. Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Dr al-Mohamed explained that the World Cup healthcare service plans bring together partners from across the sector."Almost every part of our healthcare system, across the public and private sector, will have a role to play throughout the World Cup.Healthcare teams from the Ministry of Public Health, Hamad Medical Corp, Primary Health Care Corp, Aspetar, Sidra Medicine, Qatar Red Crescent, Qatar Armed Forces, Ministry of Interior, and Qatar Energy Health Services will come together to deliver healthcare services in stadiums, fan zones, and training grounds, as well as providing emergency and urgent care services within our own healthcare facilities."HMC's Ambulance Service will also play a major role in providing medical services at the competition and non-competition venues and in major incident readiness and preparedness, he explained.Dr al-Mohamed pointed out that Qatar has a wealth of experience in hosting high-profile sporting events in recent years and our healthcare teams have played an important role in supporting the successful running of these tournaments. In recent years, healthcare teams have been involved in large-scale tournaments hosted in Doha, including the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup, IAAF World Athletics Championships 2019, and the FIFA Arab Cup 2021.Dr al-Mohamed said that the transformation of the healthcare sector in recent years, increasing capacity and improving the quality of care, has placed it in a strong position to meet the anticipated additional demand for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. "Since 2010, across the public health system we have opened 10 new state-of-the-art hospitals; 16 modern primary health centers; and multiple new specialist facilities, including for emergency and urgent care. The private healthcare sector has also seen great expansion, with multiple new hospitals and medical centers opening in recent years."However, not only have we expanded capacity and increased activity, we have significantly advanced the quality of care that we provide to our patients. Our continual pursuit of quality improvement has been endorsed through multiple international accreditations for quality and safety across a broad range of service areas."In October 2021, the Ministry of Public Health signed a three-year partnership with the World Health Organisation, FIFA, and Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy to make the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 a beacon for physical and mental health promotion, and a model for ensuring future mega sports events are healthy and safe.Dr al-Mohamed explained that through this unique partnership, the World Cup is being used as a catalyst to promote healthy behaviours as well as ensure a safe World Cup for everyone involved. In the coming weeks, the Ministry of Public Health will announce more information on its World Cup service provision and how visiting fans can access important healthcare services in Qatar.