Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) has announced that it will launch national cancer screening initiatives in July, starting with a focus on breast and bowel health. PHCC has signed a contract in this regard with International companies FujiFilm, RadNet and Specialised Medical Solutions.
PHCC has been given the authority, under Qatar’s National Cancer Programme, to implement cancer screening services nationwide in keeping with country’s new wellness model of healthcare as outlined in its National Health Strategy (NHS) 2011-2016.
Through the NHS, Qatar is implementing widespread innovations to its entire healthcare system. The NHS emphasises a shift toward preventive and community-based care, which is the driving principle of the National Cancer Programme and PHCC’s population-based screening
programme.
Mariam Ali Abdulmalik, managing director, PHCC, said, “PHCC is taking this responsibility very seriously, as we believe that routine screening and early detection of diseases like cancer will save many lives. This is what primary care is about, and we are proud to be able to make this service a reality very soon. It is our pride and our obligation in PHCC to make screening and prevention part of the foundation of health in the country.”
PHCC is leading the delivery of this service to the population of Qatar with the support of an international consortium of companies - Fujifilm from Japan, RadNet from the US, and Specialised Medical Solutions (SMS) in Doha. Under a five-year plan, PHCC will leverage these companies’ knowledge and expertise in integrated screening programmes and assume all operational
management of the service.
Fujifilm supplies medical equipment and information solutions, RadNet performs clinical and operational services, and SMS provides on-the-ground administrative support in Doha.
Nastaran Fatemi, international medical director for RadNet, said: “PHCC is proactively addressing healthcare needs in Qatar by educating the population - at the community level - on the benefits of early detection and prevention.”
PHCC will launch a campaign across multiple media channels to raise public awareness of breast and bowel cancer risks, symptoms and preventive measures. Using a national call centre established for this programme, PHCC will proactively invite residents to be screened.
Logo for the programme
