Minister of Public Health H E Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari and Managing Director of PHCC, Dr Mariam Abdul Malik, with other officials during the launch of ‘Corporate Strategy Plan 2019-2023’ yesterday.
Doha: In another important step towards healthcare system development in Qatar, Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) launched the ‘Corporate Strategy Plan 2019-2023’ in the presence of Minister of Public Health, H E Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, yesterday.
The five-year plan under the theme ‘A Healthier Future for Our Families’ focuses on six priority areas including family medicine model and preventive health. “This plan supports the vision for a safe, sustainable and high-quality primary care service provided in modern premises. PHCC has achieved much over the past five years and our goal is to ensure the quality of primary care meeting the health needs of the population,” said Dr Al Kuwari.
The launching event was held in the presence of Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors for Sidra Medicine, Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham; Managing Director of PHCC, Dr Mariam Abdul Malik, and other dignitaries. The vision of the PHCC Corporate Strategy Plan 2019-2023 is to lead in transforming the health and well-being of people’s lives in Qatar.
The six priority areas of the Plan also includes highly skilled and motivated workforce, strong partnerships with patients, families and communities, enhanced primary care system and collaboration for care and patient safety. Dr Mariam Abdul Malik shed light on the importance of new Corporate Strategy Plan as a key player in Qatar healthcare system. “When you look at a successful national healthcare model, one that is fully integrated into a primary care setting, you’re typically looking at a reduction of 30% emergency room visits, sometimes for the higher needs and higher risk groups, up to 50% drop in emergency room visits,” she said.
“You’re also looking at a huge drop in speciality care visits because patients are getting their needs met at primary care. There is no doubt that PHCC is a well-positioned leader in the ongoing effort to transform the state’s health care system. Primary Healthcare is about caring for people, rather than simply treating diseases or health conditions; it plays a very important role in preventative as well as acute care for our community, because a healthy nation depends on a good primary care system,” she added.
Managing Director of PHCC, Dr Mariam Abdul Malik, also presented with details of the various developments made under the previous Primary Healthcare strategy 2013-2018, which was implemented under the theme of ‘Building the Foundation.’
Shifting the focus from treatment to prevention, PHCC has built 5 Health and Wellness Centers with state of the art facilities across the country. Providing healthy lifestyle services including smoking cessation, diet and nutrition, and exercise referrals.
“We are delivering preventive care across all services, including ‘SMART’ health checks, mental health and pre-marital screening.”
PHCC also provides antenatal, post-natal and family planning services, well-Baby clinics, and the ‘Beautiful Smile’ service which covers oral health education and treatment to pregnant women and children.
With over 51,644 patients screened though the National Bowl and Breast Cancer Services to date, PHCC focused on early detection to increase the chances of successful treatment.
