HMC well prepared to deliver essential medical support at Asian Cup Qatar 2023

Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is working extensively in preparation for the seamless delivery of healthcare services throughout the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, being held from January 12 to February 10.
Renowned for its commitment to excellence in emergency medical care, HMC is deploying a robust medical infrastructure to provide immediate medical attention and critical care services to spectators, fans and participants alike, a statement said Sunday.
HMC’s Ambulance Service has planned and increased its resources for the tournament and is fully prepared to deliver swift and effective response to any medical emergencies that may arise during the month-long competition.
A team of 1,150 skilled medical professionals will be deployed in various roles including operations officers, field supervisors, ambulance communications officers, critical care paramedics, paramedics, doctors and nurses. This workforce will cover all nine stadiums hosting the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, ensuring that medical assistance is readily available during every match.
A total of 50 medical clinics will be distributed throughout the tournament stadiums and operational during the matches. Each stadium will also feature dedicated paramedics in the stands and concourse areas, supported by medical golf carts for patients requiring transfer to the medical clinics. To ensure maximum safety, major incident medical trucks will also be present during each match to respond to any accidents, should they occur. These units contain all the equipment required to handle such a situation.
Saleh Nasser R A al-Meqareh, assistant executive director, Event and Emergency Planning at HMC, expressed the organisation's commitment to upholding the highest standards of medical care during the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023.
"As the host nation for this prestigious sporting event, Qatar aims to provide a safe and secure environment for all participants and fans. HMC is an integral part of this commitment, dedicated to ensuring rapid and efficient emergency medical support at all venues. Our priority is to deliver immediate, expert care to anyone requiring medical attention during the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023."
HMC has conducted comprehensive training sessions, simulated drills, stadium visits and upgraded its medical equipment to ensure their medical teams are fully prepared for any situation, he added.
Established in 2020, the National Healthcare Incident Command Center (NHICC) at HMC is ready to lead the co-ordination of the Qatar healthcare system's response to a major incident at any time, including during the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023.
The NHICC co-ordinates operations of key healthcare providers in Qatar, including HMC, Primary Health Care Corporation and Sidra Medicine, in addition to acting as the healthcare system focal point for the Ministry of Public Health and other government agencies.
A critical component of the management of planning and logistics for HMC’s services during major events is the Workforce Hub. This centralised location operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout competitions and facilitates the management and administration of staff, hosts daily briefings and the distribution of equipment among many other tasks.