MoPH officials with the participating physicians at the symposium.
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), in collaboration with its partners, recently hosted a symposium to honour 57 primary care physicians from the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) who successfully completed the internationally recognised obesity management certification programme.
This initiative was conducted in partnership with the Qatar Metabolic Institute (QMI) at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), reinforcing Qatar’s commitment to improving obesity prevention and treatment.
This ceremony preceded the official celebration of World Obesity Day on March 4.
Led by the World Obesity Federation, the observance aims to raise awareness and promote collective action to prevent obesity.
The theme for this year, “Change Systems, Healthier Lives,” emphasises the necessity for systemic reforms in healthcare, policy, food systems, and the built environment to combat obesity globally.
Director of Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention Programs at MoPH and Co-Chair of the National Diabetes Committee, Sheikh Dr, Mohamed Al Thani, emphasised the urgent need for collective action in addressing obesity and its associated health risks, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
“Obesity is not just an individual challenge. It is a societal issue that demands systemic change. True progress happens when governments, healthcare professionals, businesses, and communities unite to build healthier environments and empower individuals to make sustainable lifestyle choices. Together, we can transform the future of health and well-being in Qatar and beyond.
“When we change systems, we change lives. Let’s work together to build a healthier, stronger future for all.”
Senior Consultant, Family Physician, and Executive Director of Operations at PHCC, Dr. Samya Al Abdulla congratulated the 57 primary care physicians who completed the six-month, CPD-accredited training delivered by QMI, HMC, in collaboration with MoPH and PHCC.
She highlighted the pivotal role of primary care in obesity prevention.
“Through PHCC’s screening and wellness programmes, we bring high-quality obesity prevention and management services closer to the community, ensuring that care remains accessible and person-cantered,” she added.
Consultant in Endocrinology and Obesity Medicine at QMI, HMC, and Chair of the Scientific and Planning Committee, Dr. Mohamed Aly Elsherif underscored the comprehensive nature of this six-month training initiative, the first of its kind in the Middle East and Gulf region.
The programme consists of three key phases: interactive workshops, in-depth online training for SCOPE certification, and hands-on clinical practice at QMI’s National Obesity Treatment Centre and National Bariatric Centre.
Co-Chair of the National Diabetes Committee at MoPH and Director of QMI at HMC, Professor Abdul Badi Abou Samra reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to addressing obesity and diabetes through the National Health Strategy (NHS-3) 2024-2030.
“The Action Plan for Obesity, Diabetes, and Modifiable Risk Factors for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Diseases (ASCVD) sets strategic objectives to reduce obesity prevalence and Body Mass Index (BMI) levels. The plan also aims to expand screening efforts to reach 75% of the target population by 2030 and decrease the percentage of individuals with more than three risk factors to 30% through prevention and management programs,” said Prof Abou-Samra.
