Health Minister: Healthcare Quality Incomplete Without Comprehensive Insurance System

Doha, April 14 (QNA) - HE the Minister of Public Health and Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Health Abdullah bin Khalid Al-Qahtani said that the healthcare quality can be complete only with a comprehensive health insurance project that covers every individual. He stressed, in this context, that Qatar has mobilized, and still mobilizing all the necessary financial and human resources for the health insurance project that will enable all Qataris and residents to receive high quality health services at a reasonable cost. This came in the a speech HE the Health Minister delivered at the opening session of the International Conference on Health Care Quality and Patient Safety, which is organized in Doha by Canadian Accreditation International under the title "Partnering for Healthier Population and Safer Care". HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has stressed Qatar's keenness in providing high quality health care services and has paid the health sector much attention and care being at the top of national priorities, said HE the Minister. He pointed out that launching the National Strategy for Health 2011-2016, aims to develop a comprehensive program for development consistent with Qatar National Vision 2030. The National Strategy for Health also strengthens Qatar's health care vision that aims at creating a world-class healthcare system, through 39 programs being implemented in cooperation with the government bodies and health facilities he said. The most important among these programs is the Quality Improvement program which is committed to enhancing the quality of health care through harmonization of standards and dissemination of a continuous improvement culture, he added. HE the minister of Public Health Abdullah bin Khalid Al-Qahtani says that the State of Qatar is keen to get accreditation for health care facilities. Hamad Medical Corporation (the largest institutions that provides health care services in the state) received accreditation from Joint Commission International in 2011, and the Institution of Primary Health Care is on the way to get the Canadian Accreditation for all health centers in State, while 4 private hospitals have taken advanced steps towards international accreditation, he added. HE the Minister stressed the importance of the International Conference on Health Care Quality and Patient Safety, as it gives an opportunity to meet with expertise and international partners to review the successes and to discuss the challenges of improving health care services in the State of Qatar. The Conference sees the participation of health care leaders from more than 20 countries gathering to review the achievements, challenges and ambitions with regard to improving the quality of health care and patient safety. The Conference comes in response to the need of international organizations, concerned with health care programs accreditation, to constantly seek achieving safe health care and healthy population. (QNA)