More than 80% of National Health Strategy (NHS) 2011-2016 has been accomplished and work is going on to introduce NHS 2017-2022, which will focus on “good health through better nutrition and sound lifestyle,” the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has said.
In a statement yesterday, the ministry said NHS 2017-2022 will be based on the previous health strategy, which entails a strong and strategic inclination towards continuous development of the health sector in the country.
The MoPH organised an event on Thursday to honour the NHS 2011-2016 team’s hard work during the past five years.
HE Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari, Minister of Public Health, said: “What has been achieved with the National Health Strategy programme shows the positive co-operation and integration among the MoPH, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) and all the other partners.”
She pointed out that work had been going on to prepare NHS 2017- 2022 to support the national development strategy and achieve Qatar National Vision 2030.
“Besides, the best use of the previous experiences will be made to guarantee the ideal implementation of the NHS programme and meet the national obligation of improving health within the Qatari society.”
During the past five years, NHS effected fundamental improvements at all levels of the health system in the country through adopting a comprehensive framework for care and enhancing integration among the entities involved at the national level.
In addition, all the related challenges such as increasing demand for health services, shortage of medical professionals and the spread of non-transmittable diseases due to unhealthy lifestyles, were addressed.
Besides, the MoPH has strived to improve the work quality of health professionals in the country through various tools.
Public health projects represented around one-third of the NHS, which included preparing an early diagnosis programme for cancer, especially for women, pre-marriage check-ups and improving psychiatric healthcare.
In recent years, six new health centres have been inaugurated and four others are set to be opened this year. An additional 10 health centres will be opened during 2018-2021, which will make healthcare services much more accessible to the country’s growing population.
On NHS 2017-2022, which is set to be launched soon, the statement said attention would be focused on better health and protection.
“The initiative within such a strategy includes a work plan to fight tobacco use, a guidebook on nutrition and supporting Aspetar and Qatar University to prepare Qatar Physical Activity Guidelines 2017-2022, which will be launched soon. Also, a work plan on national nutrition and physical activities will be launched soon.”
The five-year health programme was launched to ensure world-class healthcare in the country through three core areas of delivery: workforce integration and quality, policy regulation and research.
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