By Fazeena Saleem
DOHA: Five new hospitals will open as part of a major expansion of healthcare facilities next year, Minister of Public Health H E Abdullah bin Khalid Al Qahtani said yesterday.
The project includes three full-fledged hospitals for single workers in the Industrial Area, Mesaieed Industrial City and Ras Laffan. Also, a Communicable Diseases Hospital is to open early next year.
“We will open five hospitals next year. There will be lots of expansions, including new hospitals, new health centres and expansion of some healthcare facilities,” Al Qahtani said on sidelines of Qatar International Medical Devices and Healthcare Exhibition (QMED) at Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC).
He said the National Health Strategy 2011-2016 has completed 71 percent of its 37 projects and a second strategy will be launched in early 2017. He inaugurated the three-day premium medical and healthcare exhibition which hosts local, regional and international organisations and showcases latest developments in the healthcare sector.
QMED has over 70 organisations and companies, including healthcare service and equipment providers.
Local exhibitors include Hamad Medical Corporation, Primary Health Care Corporation, Ali Bin Ali Company, VLCC Wellness and Aspeter. Foreign exhibitors include companies form the US, the UK, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, China, Turkey and India.
QMED is also a platform for participants to exchange experiences and knowledge and build business opportunities.
Khalifa Al Mohannadi, General Manager, Sogha Exhibitions and Conferences, said, “The event will be a platform to support the development of Qatar’s healthcare sector as part of efforts by the government to improve the quality of health services.
“We call competent companies to offer healthcare services and investors and those concerned with the health sector in Qatar to benefit from the opportunity that allows them to directly communicate and interact with healthcare leaders in the region and worldwide.”
QMED is being held under the patronage of the Supreme Council of Health, supported by Qatar Tourism Authority, Qatar Diabetes Association, Qatar Red Crescent Society and Qatar Chamber of Commerce.
It is a joint partnership between Sogha Conferences and Exhibitions Management Company and ExCo Media in London.
The Peninsula
