Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Autism-Friendly Hospital initiative at Sidra Medicine is reshaping autism care through tailored pathways, trained staff, and parental support, advancing a wider 2025–2035 national strategy for earlier diagnosis and compassionate healthcare.
According to QF’s 'Building an Autism-Friendly Nation in Qatar' progress report (2016-2024), the programme is based on proven international best practices adapted to the Qatari context, aiming to make every hospital visit as comfortable as possible.
Launched in 2023 as a pilot model, the report noted that the initiative directly addresses the significant stress hospital appointments can cause for children with autism and their families.
The comprehensive, three-step process begins with Personalised Childcare, according to the report. Upon a child’s registration in Sidra Medicine’s online system, an alert triggers a specific care pathway.
Nurses then proactively contact parents to complete an Autism Support Checklist, available in Arabic and English, detailing the child’s sensory and communication needs, preferences, and behavioural patterns.
This vital information is saved and updated, while every ward is equipped with devices and sensory toys to ease discomfort. Further accommodations for parents include minimised waiting times and dedicated parking spots.
A cornerstone of the initiative is Specialised Staff Training where Sidra Medicine promotes an inclusive, respectful attitude towards individuals with autism and stresses dignity and patient-centered care.
The report noted that all health personnel undergo training via a culturally sensitive e-learning module, providing basic education about autism, its varied manifestations, and effective accommodation strategies. This might involve using sensory or communication devices, visual aids, or allowing more time for children to process information and prepare for procedures.
The third pillar, Parent Training, empowers families by equipping them with essential knowledge about autism. This can be achieved through small workshops and the dissemination of printed or digital resources during hospital visits.
According to the report, Sidra Medicine is aiming to reduce the average age of diagnosis for children with autism, ensuring they receive the earliest possible support. This objective, it added, is a key component of QF’s broader Autism Strategy for 2025-2035, highlighting a long-term commitment to enhancing the lives of individuals with autism and their families across the nation.
