Ministry launches drive to protect consumer rights
QNA/Doha
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce stressed the need to adhere to Consumer Protection Act and guarantees given to customers in order to protect their rights.
The ministry has launched a three-month inspection campaign to monitor markets and services provided by car agencies and to disclose violations of the consumer protection rights.
During the campaign, the ministry’s inspectors seized a number of violations such as failure to provide spare parts, an alternative vehicle, and non-compliance with the guarantees given to customers.
Youssef Saad al-Suwaidi, head of Commercial Fraud Combat Section at the Consumer Protection Department, said the consumer’s right to benefit from goods or services provided by car agencies through its commitment to provide spare parts during the first three years after purchase on condition that the period for the provision of spare parts should not exceed 15 days after the elapse of the three years. In case the specified period was exceeded, the agency should provide an alternative vehicle to the client until the completion of the provision of the commodity or service.
Concern over Central Market
Consumers have demanded the implementation of recommendations made by the Central Municipal Council 10 years ago to develop the Central Market, local Arabic daily Arrayah has reported.
The concerns raised by visitors include a shortage of parking space, inadequate infrastructure, poor arrangements at the vegetable market where products are sold under the sun and foul smell emanates from the fish and livestock markets, the report states.
Biomedical research
in focus at symposium
Experts in biomedical research and related fields have attended a research symposium organised jointly by the Qatar University Biomedical Research Centre (QUBRC) and Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI).
The event was attended by QU vice-president for Research Dr Hassan al-Derham, QBRI executive director Dr Hilal A Lashuel and scientists and researchers from Qatar Biobank, Qatar Cardiovascular Research Centre (QCRC), Qatar National Research Fund and Qatar Foundation.
The purpose of the event was to bring together experts, scientists and researchers to discuss developments in biomedical research in Qatar, and more specifically, for QU and QBRI scientists to meet and strengthen their scientific interaction.
Discussions also focused on the aims, objectives and strategies of QUBRC and QBRI towards achieving a breakthrough in biomedical research.
In her remarks, QUBRC’s newly-appointed director Dr Asmaa al-Thani said the new centre will focus on research, training and services in applied and basic biomedical research.
To achieve this objective, she added, QUBRC will work closely with QBRI and other partners in Qatar such as Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), QCRC, Sidra Medical and Research Centre, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital (Aspetar) and Qatar Biobank.
“Through its activities and functions, the centre will strive to reduce the transmission of infectious diseases in the community and hospitals and enhance public health in Qatar in collaboration with the Supreme Council of Health and HMC,” Dr al-Thani said.
“Concerted efforts will be made to advance research on drug development and testing in the long run.”
Dr al-Thani highlighted QU’s competitive strength in biomedical sciences, noting its many college-based labs, a faculty body numbering over 50 in the field of biomedical sciences and a host of graduate programmes.
“The centre has ample facilities, equipment and resources and will provide state-of-the-art labs and support for interdisciplinary and translational research and complement the already existing or planned biomedical research capabilities in the country,” she said.
She further said that while attracting industry partnerships for research and development, the centre will leverage resources at other QU units such as the Centre for Advanced Materials, Kindi Lab for Computing Research, Laboratory Animal Research Centre, College of Pharmacy and the Environmental and Biological Sciences department in the College of Arts & Sciences, and provide expanded capabilities to faculty and student researchers.
Dr Lashuel said: “QUBRC is a significant achievement for QU and the biomedical landscape for Qatar. Also, this milestone is a great opportunity to build a bridge between QU and QBRI in areas of education, training and research.”
Kahramaa team for Cairo talks
A high-level delegation of Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) headed by president and senior engineer Essa bin Hilal al-Kuwari will represent the country in the executive meeting of the Arab Ministerial Council for Electricity starting in Cairo today. The council will be held at the General Secretariat of the Arab League in Cairo. It will discuss among other issues a number of previous recommendations and other topics concerning joint efforts of the member countries in the electricity sector including power grid networks and other measures for the peaceful uses of the nuclear energy for electricity generation. The council will also review the outcome of the previous meetings, workshops and conferences for the development of the nuclear safety and security and basic infrastructure.
