Future Plan to Open Nine New Hospitals, 18 Primary Health Care Centres - Minister

Doha, May 14 (QNA) - HE Minister of Public Health, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) Abdullah bin Khalid Al Qahtani has underlined that plans are underway to open nine new hospitals and 18 centres for primary health care in the coming years, and other projects within the framework of the national strategy for health. HE the Minister in his introduction of the SCH annual report for the last year said that the year 2012 saw the opening of the two hospitals, two new centres for the diagnosis of cancer, and another centre for research . HE the Minister added that plans are now underway to open nine additional hospitals and two facilities for diagnosis, research and treatment, and 18 centers for primary health care, and two units belonging to the medical commission, in addition to increasing the frequency of work in the implementation of 39 projects of the national health strategy for the years 2011-2016. He added that progress in the health sector reflects the great commitment of our wise leadership towards the achievement of better health care services, where the budget has been increased in this regard that in addition to continued guidance aimed at achieving more progress throughout the year 2013 . The report pointed out that the planned nine hospitals include three hospitals to be affiliated to SCH and six hospitals to be affiliated to Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), including new Women's Hospital, a minor surgeries hospital , a contagious Diseases Hospital , a hospital for diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and major accidents hospitals , in addition to the multi research institute of Hamad Medical Corporation, and the Institute of neurological Sciences. The projects will be implemented during the period from 2012 to 2021, the report stated. The report also highlighted the expansion of the health sector where two new hospitals were opened including the Cuban hospital in Dukhan , and Al Wakrah Hospital in Al Wakrah, in addition to the opening of the survey class by emission of positrons HMC, which is the only and integrated centre for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in the state, the report said . It also recorded a 16 per cent annual increase in the number of hospital beds.(END)