Interview: Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari
How does Qatar rank in global medical standards?
HANAN MOHAMED AL KUWARI: Qatar has undergone a remarkable transformation in its health care services in recent years, positioning itself to meet global standards. The growth in the medical sector has allowed the country to measure its achievements against the best international health care providers. In early 2023 a study conducted by Brand Finance, a UK-based brand valuation consultancy, announced that five Qatari hospitals – Sidra Medicine and four HMC hospitals – were ranked among the world’s top-250 academic medical centres. This placed Qatar at the forefront of the GCC, with the highest number of hospitals in the top 250 in the region.
Notably, Qatar has excelled in delivering specialised services to address some of the most common medical emergencies. For instance, 69% of acute stroke patients at HMC receive treatment within 60 minutes of arrival, exceeding the international benchmark of 50%. Furthermore, 94% of patients with suspected cancer at HMC are seen by a specialist within 48 hours, outperforming the UK’s 14-day target. Additionally, the HMC trauma programme regularly demonstrates a mortality rate lower than its North American counterparts.
In what ways is technology being leveraged to improve health care outcomes, especially with regard to telemedicine and e-health records?
AL KUWARI: Telemedicine and virtual services play a vital role in ensuring convenient access to professional health care services across various specialties. A standout success in our recent focus on expanding telemedicine is the National Mental Health Helpline. This free-of-charge, specialised mental health service receives over 1200 calls per month, providing virtual consultations to individuals experiencing stress, anxiety and other mental health conditions.
Electronic patient records are integrated across all public health facilities, significantly impacting patient care. For example, HMC’s Ambulance Service employs an electronic patient clinical record system, which allows paramedics to transmit clinical information about the patient’s condition to the receiving hospital while the patient is still in transit. The implementation of the QHUB digital programme, led by the Ministry of Public Health, is set to introduce various e-services and digital programmes, including electronic medical records that can be shared across the health care system, encompassing both public and private providers.
To what extent is the sector adapting to global trends, such as increasing patient empowerment?
AL KUWARI: Our strategic objectives and priorities are aligned with the latest international trends in medical care, ensuring continuous improvement in the delivery of quality services to patients. Both the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) and HMC have placed significant emphasis on tailoring services in order to meet patient needs. The PHCC has expanded its quality improvement programme, achieving diamond-level accreditation and receiving the People-Centred Care (PCC) commitment award from Accreditation Canada in 2023. The PHCC’s achievements include the launch of initiatives that invite patients to join key committees, enabling them to contribute to essential decisions in service design and development.
Similarly, HMC’s PCC programme involves patients and their families in treatment plans and decisions related to their health care experience. This approach positions patients and their families as equal partners in planning, delivering and monitoring clinical care. The PCC Ambassador Programme at HMC allows members of the community to volunteer and support patient care by providing support throughout their care experience. Additionally, patient and family advisory councils have been established to act as hospital-based advisory groups. These councils collaborate with clinical, administrative and support personnel in order to offer guidance on enhancing the patient and family experience.
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