The Supreme Council of Health (SCH) has asked all the healthcare facilities and practitioners in the country to adhere strictly to its guidelines in conducting bariatric surgery. SCH recently issued a set of guidelines to regulate the practice of bariatric surgery.
“We have issued a set of guidelines and everyone is expected to follow it precisely. We will hold them accountable for each action in this regard. If the healthcare facilities or practitioners do not adhere to these norms, they will be warned and even their licences will be revoked,” said Dr Jamal Rashid al-Khanji, director of Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety at Supreme Council of Health and CEO of Qatar Council of Healthcare Practitioners.
The official stated that the guidelines are applicable for both the public and private facilities and practitioners in the country. “These guidelines were issued in view of the large number of people undergoing the surgery. Especially a number of serious complications were reported among the people who had gone abroad for the surgery. Therefore we thought of regulating the practice.”
According to the official so many people who are not eligible for the surgery are undergoing this surgery. He said: “This surgery like any other surgery has many associated risks. So we decided that the risks and benefits are to be balanced and some checks and balances have to be put in place and action. If we do not do that, we are allowing patients’ safety to be compromised.”
He also highlighted that many people are extensively making use of this surgery in neighbouring countries for reduced prices. “We are advising the people to think twice before opting for this treatment in these countries as they might be buying more than what they wanted. ”
