Dr Michel Makhlouf, Acting Chair of Women’s Services; Dr Abdulla Al Kaabi, Chief Medical Officer; and Dr Aisha Yousuf, Medical Director of Reproductive Surgery at Sidra Medicine, during a press conference held to announce the hospital's new services for w
Sidra Medicine, a member of Qatar Foundation, has announced a slew of new services to be introduced in 2020 including opening of a state-of-the-art In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) facility in the first quarter of the year.
The other facilities and services include opening of an expanded postpartum unit with new deluxe rooms and suites, starting operating outpatient evening clinics for obstetrics and gynaecology services, offering cervical screenings and opening a Women’s Adult Pain Clinic.
The Women’s Services Programme at Sidra Medicine has progressed remarkably since opening of the main hospital in 2018, said Dr Abdulla Al Kaabi, Chief Medical Officer at Sidra Medicine, addressing a press conference held yesterday.
“Within two years, we have expanded from maternity, gynaecology and maternal-fetal medicine to include a robust line up that covers a wider spectrum of services covering reproductive as well as maternal child health and much more,” he said.
“I am very excited to announce that this quarter we will see the launch of our IVF facility in addition to several other new programmes.”
Over the next few days, Sidra Medicine will open new Deluxe Maternity rooms and suites fitted out with adjoining lounge areas and ensuite facilities. The suites also include a separate connecting reception room. Also a new Women’s Adult Pain Clinic will start to treat chronic pain in women via medication, nerve blocks, active physical therapy and behavioural interventions.
“Sidra Medicine’s multidisciplinary approach has been structured keeping the woman and her needs and choices in mind,” said Dr Michel Makhlouf, Acting Chair of Women’s Services at Sidra Medicine.
In February, a Cervical Screening Clinic will open to offer cervical screenings which can detect abnormalities and identify the need for treatment.
Services include Pap tests, which check for cell changes in the cervix caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
Sidra Medicine’s IVF Treatment facility is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2020. It will be managed by a diverse team of consultant physicians, embryologists, nurses offering a holistic environment of care in a single location, with ‘in-house’ reproductive surgery, maternal fetal medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology services.
“The IVF facility with modern technology and equipment and is designed to provide high standard services including psychological support to the couple,” said Yaser Aldajani, Manager, IVF Laboratory Reproductive Medicine during a media held to give a glimpse of the new facilities and services.
“It has the has the capacity to have 5000 cycles per year and will initially start with 500 cycles,” he added. IVF cycle as the initiation of ovarian stimulation and all resulting separate fresh or frozen embryo transfers.
In 2019 women’s services at Sidra Medicine introduced a Fibroid Center which specialises in using minimally invasive methods and robotic surgery to remove fibroids; and offering the latest maternal-fetal medicine techniques such as advanced non-invasive prenatal screening tests as well as the introduction of lactation specialists.
According to Dr Aisha Yousuf, Medical Director of Reproductive Surgery at Sidra Medicine, female patients, who have choosen to get treated at Sidra Medicine for gynecology care increased of travelling abroad.
“Our care and treatment is based on offering the latest and minimally invasive techniques that are safe and most importantly expand the choice for women in the country. We have seen hundreds of female patients, who have opted to come to Sidra Medicine for gynecology care including robotic surgery instead of travelling abroad to East Asia, Europe or North America for the same treatment,” she said.
“I am personally very proud to announce that we are now offering surgeries to address Mullerian Anamolies. This particular surgery is available for women or young teenage girls, who have congenital anomalies like two complete or underdeveloped wombs or blocked overflow because of imperforated hymens. The surgery is performed via minimally invasive and robotic gynecology approach without need for large incisions,” she added.
Sidra Medicine is also actively working on several clinical research programs aimed at improving maternal and women’s health, as part of its precision medicine program.
