The crowd gathers at the registration desk during QLM’s free check-up event on Friday.
DOHA: More than 12,000 individuals benefited from the free medical check-up that was organised by Qatar’s leading Health & Life Insurer QLM as part of the celebration of The World Health Day on Friday.
The free medical check-up was made available at various medical centres, clinics and hospitals across Qatar, and this is the second consecutive year QLM is offering free medical check-up for both nationals and residents.
The medical check-up usually costs QR300 and may cross more than QR900 depending upon the kind and range of medical tests.
Speaking at the event, Ahmad Mohammed Zebeib, Senior Manager at QLM stated: “We are deeply humbled by the overwhelming response we have received by organising this free medical check-up. Many have expressed deep appreciation for this initiative as they learnt about their health conditions such as Blood Sugar level, Blood Pressure etc. which otherwise would have been undiagnosed.”
Narayan Rao, Chief Operating Officer at QLM stated: “We hope that through their participation at this event individuals will increase their awareness about their health condition and will take necessary steps prescribed by doctors to prevent the onset of lifestyle diseases such as high Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar, Lipid Profiles which are rampant in today’s population.
“I firmly believe that by maintaining a healthy and an active lifestyle, we will be successful in building robust and healthier communities in Qatar.”
The Peninsula visited a number of medical centres which provided the free check-ups to people on Friday and noticed that some of those centres received hundreds of people.
“Our centre provided free medical tests and consultations and received 1,141 visitors in the first couple of hours. The reasons behind the huge response is that this year the check-up for the first time includes dental, orthopedics, dermatology, general medicine and internal medicine among others,” said a Zakeer from Naseem Al Rabeeh branch at Al Rayan.
More than 11 doctors provided the services to visitors while many visitors chose more than one service.
At another medical centre, an official told The Peninsula that they had received hundreds of visitors but “We can’t give the total number but I can say that people were keen to avail the opportunity and they represented all nationalists.”
For his part, Ahmed Sameer from Planet Medical Center said: “We started receiving visitors from 3pm to 9pm and the average cost for free services every patient got was about QR600. The services that we provided were internal medicine consultation, dental consultation, among other services.”
“We have prepared very well and we increased the medical cadres for that day because it was Friday, but we received only 59 visitors,” he added.
Habeeb Abdul Khader, Senior Underwriting Manager - Medical, commented, “The free medical check-up organised for all nationals and residents of Qatar showcases QLM’s efforts as a responsible corporate citizen.
“We want to ensure that all people of Qatar have access to crucial tests which can help them to access the condition of their health, regardless of whether they have access to insurance or not. It is a very noble initiative and we are delighted that it has been received so well by the participants.”
Many visitors to whom The Peninsula talked appreciated the free service saying that it was exceptional day in their lives to get all these services free.
“Thanks to the QLM for offering to us such free medical check-ups which include all consultation that we need. Also we were able to choose more than one medical consultation,”said Sana. She added that another best thing about the activity was it’s conducted on Friday, an off day for most the people making them able to benefit from the services.
“If we wait for two to three months, we will not be able to get what we have received today in terms of complete medical check-up and consultation as our salaries do not allow us to have such medical tests,” said Maarouf, a worker at security company.
He said that his salary was just QR1,500 and “today I have medical tests costing around QR800 so thanks to QLM and we hope such free tests will be conducted every four months.”
