The pressure on Qatar’s healthcare infrastructure will ease considerably if companies abided by the relevant laws, Public Health Department director Dr Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani has said.
Article 105 of Qatar Labour Law stipulates that establishments with more than 100 employees should have a full-time nurse and those with more than 500 staff need to provide a clinic with a doctor and a nurse.
“The huge increase in the number of expatriate workers in Qatar is putting more pressure on our health sector,” he told a workshop on the improvement of vocational health services.
Referring to the United Nations Human Development Report for 2009, Dr Mohamed said workers will represent an increase of 80% of the population.
Pointing out that the number of foreign workers and their families is expected to reach 1,35mn, the official said this would add more pressure on the health facilities such as Hamad Medical Corporation and primary healthcare centres and affects healthcare delivery.
“Qatar was selected in June 2008 as a member of the Global Health Council of the World Health Organization for a period of two years, which confirms the high status enjoyed by Qatar and its concern for the health and welfare of workers,” Dr Mohamed al-Thani added.