Qatar Health strategy to focus on 16 key areas

Qatar Public Health Strategy 2017-2022 will address a wide range of 16 key health areas including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, road safety, occupational health and tobacco cessation, making it a most comprehensive health policy. 

The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) is preparing to formally launch the Qatar Public Health Strategy 2017-2022 later in the year.It will aim to create the environment and conditions to improve the health and wellbeing of the population, said Dr Mohammad bin Hamad Al Thani, Director of Public Health at the MoPH, yesterday during the official launch of the Qatar Public Health Strategy 2017-2022 Consultation. 
The event was held on the sidelines of the fifth Middle East Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare in the presence of H E Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health and many other key officials in the health sector.
“Increasing public understanding of health, ensuring air quality is of the highest standard, establishing more screening clinics to monitor people’s health and providing more support for people who wish to lead healthier lifestyles in all aspects. In line with it, the Qatar Public Health Strategy will aim to improve the health of Qatar’s residents,” said Dr Al Thani.
The new six year strategy will also focus on areas such as healthy lifestyle, oral health, maternal and child health, respiratory diseases, environmental health , mental health , food safety, communicable diseases and cancer.
The strategy will set 63 objectives to be reached through four strategic enablers such as Community Engagement and Empowerment, Data Driven Intelligence, Workforce and System Capability, Leadership, Regulation and Accountability, said Dr Al Thani.
It will also aim at raising awareness about healthy lifestyle habits, ensuring safer environment: air water and food, protecting employees from workplace hazards and improving safety of all road users.
The launch of the Qatar Public Health Strategy Consultation marked the start of an online public health survey to seek Qatar residents’ opinions on health issues and feedback which will be used to inform the strategy prior to its formal launch.
The Public Health Survey 2017 includes 16 questions on different aspects of health issues and lifestyle habits. Several attendees of the fifth Middle East Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare were seen taking part in the survey at a special booth assigned at the venue.
“The Qatar Public Health Strategy is an incredibly exciting six-year plan with the potential to make a real positive difference to the lives of the people of Qatar. Through the survey we will receive in-depth information on what people want, and need, in relation to public health – we will then study and utilize this feedback to ensure that the final strategy is robust and
fit for purpose,” said Dr Al Thani.
“To achieve the strategy’s vision for a healthy population we need individuals, families, employers, schools and government to all play their part and take responsibility for developing a healthier society. The Qatar Public Health Strategy Consultation is a wonderful opportunity for people to engage with the strategy and support its vision to improve the health and wellbeing of the nation,” he added.
Also, a panel discussion focused on the importance of the Qatar Public Health Strategy in setting out a plan to address key health issues in Qatar.