Dr Noof Mohammed Al Siddiqi (L) and Dr Salih Ali Al Marri.
In a new initiative, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has introduced a system to facilitate and prioritise healthcare services to individuals with Autism Disorder Spectrum (ASD) in the country.
‘The priority pathway,’ is an electronic system which has records of individuals with ASD and notify the healthcare providers, when they seek appointments.
“The new electronic system is introduced across Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and Primary Health Care Corporation. We will expand it sooner to Sidra Medicine and other private hospitals,” said Dr Noof Mohammed
Al Siddiqi, Focal point for the National Autism Plan at MoPH. “With the new system individuals with ASD will get early appointments and once they arrive at the hospital too, they will be given priority,” she added, speaking on the sidelines of and ASD awareness forum held yesterday.
‘The priority pathway’ has been developed by experts at the HMC and introduced by the MoPH, in line with the national Autism Plan. The awareness forum held at the St. Regis Hotel in Doha focused on building a supportive system for early intervention and comprehensive education for individuals with ASD.
Dr Salih Ali Al Marri, Assistant Minister Health Affairs MOPH, said, “Promoting a good environment for people with ASD is essential. It is an achievable task when we are committed.”
The forum was held under three areas including showcasing experiences and local studies on the procedures and mechanisms of early detection and diagnosis of ASD, enabling access to health, education and social services for ASD patients and promoting early intervention and comprehensive education services for ASD patients. The event has brought together local and international experts.
Dr Stephen Mark Shore, Professor of special education, Adelphi University in New York delivered a key note speech on ‘Life on and Slightly to the Right of the Autism Spectrum.’
The Forum also aimed at reaching a common understanding of the early diagnosis of ASD and its relation to changing the approaches used in dealing with children suffering from ASD, establish an upgraded education framework for healthcare personnel dealing with patients suffering from ASD and find the optimal methods to develop services that provide aid to patients suffering from ASD in the training and education process.
It also discussed methods to develop an educational framework for healthcare personnel and educational institutions’ staff on how to deal with patients suffering from ASD.
