Qatar Primary Health Care Corporation Launch National Strategy 2013-2018

Doha, June 02 (QNA) - The Primary Health Care Corporation launched Sunday its national strategy for primary health care 2013-2018 during a ceremony at the Qatar National Convention Center. The strategy aims to put primary health care at the core of the health care system, in order to face future health challenges. HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the Vice Chair of the Supreme Council of Health, wrote in the introduction for the strategy booklet that the initiative was an important step towards providing exceptional primary health care in the State of Qatar. Her Highness noted that the strategy had many recommendations that could improve the primary health care sector in the next five years. The strategy will also focus on promoting habits that prevents diseases in the first place, particularly habits relating to control body weight and smoking hazards. Her Highness Sheikha Moza said the main part of the strategy however will focus on improving primary health care, which is the most effective way in treating individuals suffering from diseases like diabetes. HH the Vice Chair of the Supreme Council of Health said that the State of Qatar was determined to become a primary global contributor in the field of health care. Qatar will host a number of distinguished events this calendar year, that will feature leading researchers in the field of health care. The events will focus on how to tackle challenges that face the health care field in the world today. At the end of her foreword HH Sheikha Moza expressed her hope that the State of Qatar can achieve the necessary development in the field of Primary health care. In his speech at the strategy launching ceremony, HE the Minister of Public Health, the Secretary-General of Supreme Council of Health (SCH) Abdullah bin Khalid Al-Qahtani, stressed that the State of Qatar realized that the development of nations starts from the development of the health sector and that Qatar has set that as a fundamental commitment to its people in its permanent constitution. The State of Qatar seeks to achieve this through the development of specific strategies and policies supported by creative initiatives such as the establishment of health and education fund, he added. He pointed to National Strategy for Health 2011 - 2016, launched by SCH, which aims to develop a comprehensive system for the development of the health care system in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030. These policies aimed at building a world-class effective health system that focuses on community and the individual at the same time. HE the Minister stressed the importance of National Strategy for Primary Healthcare that aims to develop health policies for the State of Qatar, Indicating that the preparation of the Strategy is just the first step in addressing the challenges facing the health sector, followed by the implementation of all its stages. At the conclusion of his speech, HE the Minister of Public Health, praised the vision of HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and their unlimited support for the development of the health sector of the State of Qatar. The Primary Health Care Corporation's strategy is designed in accordance with the principles of Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Qatar National Health Strategy 2011-2016. The Primary Health Care Corporation had organized a workshop to build a system of the highest quality and based on the best international standards in order to improve the health of citizens, which is one of the most important values. The objective of the workshop was to highlight the principles underpinning the country's primary healthcare strategy as well as to engage in a conversation with residents on the emerging themes of the primary healthcare strategy and to ensure that public feedback finds its place in the historic document. It stressed that to build the strategy, the participation of citizens and patients is needed, as the system that will be implemented must be effective for the society as a whole in five years. The workshop's attendees participated in a focus group styled session, covering eight primary healthcare disciplines such as home care, emergency care, chronic diseases, mental health, screening test, maternity and newborn examination, children and adolescents, and health promotion. (QNA)