Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the world's leading biopharmaceutical companies, to collaborate on initiatives aimed at strengthening clinical research, advancing healthcare innovation, building workforce capabilities, and enhancing patient outcomes in Qatar.
The MoU reflects a shared commitment to collaborate across several strategic areas, including strengthening the capabilities of HMC's Clinical Trials Unit (CTU), enhancing research expertise, and exploring initiatives that support the continued development of healthcare capabilities within Qatar. Together, these efforts will help ensure HMC remains at the forefront of medical advancement and innovation.
By strengthening clinical trial infrastructure and research capabilities, the collaboration will help attract future international clinical trials to Qatar, increase participation in global studies, and provide local researchers with greater opportunities to contribute to medical innovation and scientific discovery.
The collaboration will also enable HMC researchers to gain greater visibility of emerging therapies, technologies, and research developments. This will help identify future areas of innovation, inform research priorities, and align clinical research activities with evolving healthcare needs.
In addition, the partnership will focus on supporting Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in HMC, including capacity building and infrastructure development, helping healthcare professionals evaluate the clinical, economic, humanistic, and societal impacts of emerging healthcare interventions, such as medicines, medical devices, and digital health technologies. Strengthening HTA expertise will support evidence-based decision-making and help ensure the effective and efficient use of healthcare resources.
Assistant Managing Director of Hamad Medical Corporation Ali Al Janahi highlighted the significance of the agreement, stating: "This collaboration represents an important step in strengthening Qatar's clinical research ecosystem and supporting our ambition to deliver world-class healthcare through innovation, evidence-based practice, value-based healthcare, and international collaboration."
"By expanding opportunities for clinical trials, enhancing research capabilities, and strengthening expertise, we are creating new opportunities to advance patient care and improve health outcomes for the people of Qatar as well as having a sustainable health system. We are pleased to partner with Boehringer Ingelheim in support of these shared goals and look forward to the positive impact this collaboration will have on healthcare in Qatar," Al Janahi added.
Dr. Anas Ahmad Hamad, Deputy Chief of Drug Supply in HMC and Lead of National HTA and Innovation Regulation Program in the National Health Strategy 2024-2030, said: "This collaboration marks an important step in advancing Qatar's HTA ecosystem by strengthening local capacity, enhancing technical expertise, and supporting the development of sustainable HTA infrastructure within Hamad Medical Corporation and the wider healthcare system."
"Through strategic partnerships with industry, like this one, we are building the capabilities needed to ensure evidence-based decision-making, accelerate responsible access to innovation, and ultimately improve health outcomes in alignment with the National Health Strategy 2024-2030," he added.
Derek O'Leary, Regional Managing Director, India, Middle East, Turkiye and Africa at Boehringer Ingelheim, said: "Our collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation reflects a shared commitment to co-create advanced research capabilities, unlock scientific potential, and support the continued advancement of healthcare in Qatar.”
Abdallah Hamed, General Manager and Head of Human Pharma, Saudi Arabia, Gulf and East Africa (SAGEA), Boehringer Ingelheim, said: "Our collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation reflects a shared commitment to strengthening research capabilities while embedding innovation more effectively into clinical practice. This kind of partnership is critical to ensuring that scientific advances move beyond discovery and deliver real value at the point of care."
Boehringer Ingelheim is a global biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of innovative therapies that improve the health of both people and animals. The company currently serves more than 130 markets through three core business areas: human pharmaceuticals, animal health, and biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing.