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Sunday, November 10, 2024 | Daily Newspaper published by GPPC Doha, Qatar.
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 Joseph Varghese
Joseph Varghese
A journalist with a penchant for reporting events, Joseph Varghese digs deep to unearth facts. With several years of experience, including at Gulf Times, Joseph handles health, science and technology, IT and education in addition to everyday developments.
Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser at the opening of the 17th World Congress of Bioethics. PICTURE: Aisha al-Musallam.
Qatar
HBKU initiates International Islamic Bioethics Association

Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) has initiated the establishment and hosting of the International Islamic Bioethics Association at the university, president Dr Ahmad M Hasnah said Tuesday.“In supporting the development and advancing of the Islamic bioethics’ knowledge generation and contribution, we are proud to announce the initiation of establishing and hosting of the International Islamic Bioethics Association at Hamad Bin Khalifa University,” he explained.Dr Hasnah was addressing the inaugural session of the 17th edition of the World Congress of Bioethics at Qatar National Convention Centre."We, at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, believe that no voice needs to be left out and discussions around bioethics must have all voices around the table, and that different perspectives have equal rights. As such, we have worked hard to achieve a more inclusive event, welcoming different voices and diverse approaches besides the usually dominant perspectives, in addition to providing opportunities for voices usually under represented from Asia, Africa, and South America,” he said.The official said that the main challenge facing humanity has always been an ethical one whether in science, medicine, AI, or global politics.“We live in a very dynamic world; ethical challenges are rising on multiple fronts and dimensions and are impacting humanity. No single point of view, philosophy, or approach should be the sole custodian of ethical discussions and policy formation. A more comprehensive multi views discussions need to be adopted” explained, Dr Hasnah.HBKU president said that the role of religion is a crucial one in the biomedical area.“Discussions shaping policies should not neglect people's beliefs as they are part of their lives and it is important to be captured in any policy creation. It is also, important to recognise that, heavenly religions were revealed to provide guiding principles for humanity irrespective of time and geological place providing an important basis to the ethical discussion away from trial and error or time bounded approach,” he continued.Dr Hasnah pointed out that there is a great wealth in Islamic civilisation when it comes to ethics. “ We need to have our voice and knowledge in that area well represented on the global scene and work with the global community to address the bioethical challenges,” he noted.He highlighted the leadership and vision of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser on the important role of ethics in the current and future life led to the creation of the first Research Center for Islamic Legislation and Ethics in January 2012.“CILE is an integral part of that vision and plays an important role in leading the international platform in discussions and work related to Islamic ethics and we, at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, are committed to continue having CILE play a leading role in the generation of knowledge in the domain of Islamic ethics across different disciplines especially the area of bioethics and impact the local, regional, and global discussions,” he added.

Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and Dr Ahmad M Hasnah, president, HBKU at the 17th World Congress of Bioethics. PICTURE: Aisha al-Musallam
Qatar
Sheikha Moza attends 17th World Congress of Bioethics

Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF), attended Tuesday the inauguration of the 17th World Congress of Bioethics organised by Hamad Bin Khalifa University in collaboration with World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH).The three-day Congress, held for the first time in the Arab World and the entire Middle East, has brought together over 1,000 participants - including bioethicists, researchers, and stakeholders.Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr Ahmad M Hasnah, president, HBKU, said: “The role of religion is a crucial one in the biomedical area. Discussions shaping bioethical policies should not neglect people’s beliefs, as they are a part of their lives. It is important that they are captured in the development and creation of any policy.”The Congress is hosted by HBKU’s Research Centre for Islamic Legislation and Ethics (CILE) in collaboration with WISH the global health initiative of QF. Sponsored by the Ministry of Public Health, Hamad Medical Corporation, and the Primary Health Care Corporation, this edition of the Congress is organised with support from IAB.Following the address by HBKU president, a panel discussion involving experts from various organisations discussed different perspectives on bioethics. Sultana Afdhal, CEO WISH, Dr Voo Teck Chuan, communications officer of the International Association of Bioethics, Dr Mohammed Ghaly, professor / head of CILE, Dr Said Ismail, acting president and chief scientific and operations officer, Qatar Precision Health Institute, Dr Caesar Atuire, president, IAB, Dr Khalid Fakhro, chief research officer, Sidra Medicine and Dr Julian Savulescu, director, Centre for Biomedical Ethics, National University of Singapore took part in the discussion.The event provides platform for dialogue centred on vital issues in bioethics, especially in religious and cultural contexts. The event reinforced its theme of “Religion, Culture and Global Bioethics” with a special panel discussion, which featured members of IAB executive leadership delving into the significance of the theme alongside distinguished figures from across academic and bioethics research.WISH CEO Afdhal, said: “We are delighted to see months of hard work come to fruition as we witness the gathering of the world’s most renowned bioethicists and scholars in Qatar for 17th edition of the World Congress of Bioethics. Balancing international perspectives and evidence-based best practices in health with those rooted in the religious values and cultural traditions of Qatar, the Gulf region, and the broader Arab-Muslim world has been a cornerstone of our approach at WISH.”The Congress helped participants exchange insights on prominent and emerging topics in bioethics, including the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare, how healthcare can be practiced safely in regions impacted by war and armed conflict, and public health ethics in light of Covid-19 and other pandemics. Prominent experts from the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia are participating in the discussions and offer regional perspectives on the wider field and issues such as disability, environmental, genetic, and genomic bioethics.Mohammed Ghaly, head of CILE and chair of the Congress, added: “This special edition of the World Congress of Bioethics gives us the opportunity to approach the study of bioethics from a unique context. Our discussions revolve around the understanding that our field is not only a secular discipline, but also one that acknowledges the importance of respecting diverse socio-cultural and religious-moral traditions.”

Dr Khalid M al-Ali in an exclusive interview with Gulf Times. PICTURE: Thajudheen
Qatar
Qatar's well-planned strategy makes it a leader in several areas

Qatar has made use of its assets in a well-thought out strategy and the country is currently a leader in education, healthcare and several other areas in the region and beyond, remarked a leading Qatari entrepreneur in an exclusive interview with Gulf Times.“Qatar is a leader in several areas because of the consistency of the successive generations of leadership in forming policies especially in education, health, sports, economic diversification and investment in people in ways that very few countries have done. To use these tools as soft power at the world stage, Qatar has played its cards extremely well,” said, Dr Khalid M al-Ali, a leading Qatari entrepreneur and an expert in education and technology.Dr al-Ali, the only Qatari to have served with NASA, is of the view that economic diversification especially in the small business sector will empower the youth by providing several opportunities and employment openings.He explained: “Small countries do not get so many cards to make use of. Whatever we have dealt with, we are able to play them well. I expect this momentum to continue and I have seen the leadership facing the tough times with amazing skills and strong vision. We can’t sit on the gas wealth forever as energy transitions are taking place. And we are going forward and charting a path in the diversification of the economy which is the key.”As for Qatari youth and the Arab youngsters in general, Dr al-Ali noted that given an opportunity, they excel extremely well. He said that he was a judge for the popular Arabic edutainment programme, Stars of Science where the Arab youth had come out with excellent ideas and some of which have already been turned into realities.“In Stars of Science, we have seen participants coming from very remote parts of Arab countries and perform well. It was heartening to see great minds with great ideas performing on a big stage and raise their actions to greater heights. This is what an opportunity can help fire the imagination of the youth. We need to find a common strategy and focus on the youth as a good chunk of the Arab population is young,” highlighted, Dr al-Ali.The expert stated that the main challenge for the Arab youth is the economic and geopolitical issues as many countries pass through turbulent times. “A lot of turbulence is taking all around the region. There is also the lack of education facilities to empower the youth. From my experience at working in NASA for over 10 years and other organisations, when the Arab youth are given the opportunities they rise up. The issue is the absence of a platform for them to perform,” he continued.Dr al-Ali pointed out that the current generation is well advanced making use of the latest tools to network. “With these capabilities they are also facing major challenges this time. More than 20% of the youth between 15 and 24 are unemployed. School and colleges are struggling to cop up with the changes as technology is moving fast and the graduates come and find that they don’t have the skillset to participate in the job market. It is a big challenge and one of the main concerns of the youth,” he added.

The investment by Qatar in education will be a huge asset for the country in the years and decades to come, says Ronnie Screwvala. PICTURE: Thajudheen
Qatar
Qatar's forward thinking to pay rich dividends: Indian entrepreneur

Qatar’s forward thinking and investment in education will pay rich dividends for the country in the years to come, leading Indian entrepreneur, investor and film producer Rohinton Soli Screwvala, popularly known as Ronnie Screwvala, told Gulf Times in an exclusive interview.“I am fascinated by the forward thinking of Qatar and other countries in the region. Qatar is articulating it with a strong vision and passion. I think the investment by Qatar in the education sector will be a huge asset for the country in the years and decades to come,” stated Screwvala, who was in town to attend Qatar Economic Forum.Screwvala, who has set up some path breaking and successful ventures in India such as UTV and UpGrad and several other startups, said: “Qatar and the countries in the entire region are building so many new things. They have a great capital with a long term view. One of the long term capitals is education which is transformative. I like the energy and the long term vision that Qatar is showing, going beyond the natural resources.”Screwvala recalled that he was into theatre as a hobby in the early days and that was his first exposure to arts and thereby to the media. He built a media and entertainment company, UTV, which after several setbacks, scaled to a size spanning all aspects of content and platform. Later he also produced a number of Bollywood movies and several of them went on to become huge hits.As for his foray into online education, Screwvala said that it was a different calling for him and one of the best things to happen. “UpGrad was different. I find a huge potential for the online education and lifelong learning. UpGrad provides such a platform for anybody and everybody. If you look at education, learning and skilling, it is a kind of storytelling. As you look at the end of the day, you will find that the professors or teachers at your college and schools are the best communicators that you remember,” he continued.“UpGrad came out of the thinking for enabling people with greater skills. Lifelong learning is an interesting topic for me and people will have to take time to upskill themselves to keep up with the present day developments and not to lose their jobs. It sounded to me an interesting market to disrupt not just in India but around the world,” he pointed out.UpGrad is a programme in the higher education meant for working professionals and Screwvala feels that it has a huge potential. He says that UpGrad and the Swades Foundation, which he founded along with his wife, are his major areas of attention for sometime to come.“I have been in the media business for the last 20 years and instead of thinking what next, I am thinking of depth in the existing programmes. The Swades Foundation, which is committed to empower one million lives in rural India every 5-7 years and UpGrad are the calling for me for the next 10 to 20 years,” added, Screwvala.

Ahmed Abu-Sharkh speaking to Gulf Times. PICTURE: Thajudheen
Qatar
Qatar's economy poised for strong growth: KPMG official

An expert from a leading international financial audit firm has voiced optimism for strong growth in the Qatar economy for several years to come on account of its huge investment in oil and gas as well as the Qatar National Development Strategy 2024-2030.“We are very optimistic about Qatar economy because of the huge investment in oil and gas sector and development of more gas fields. Additionally, the 3rd Qatar National Development Strategy focuses on three key areas of tourism, logistics and manufacturing. This is the focus of Qatar right now and the leadership of the country has focused on the right areas,” Ahmed Abu-Sharkh, country leader partner, KPMG Qatar told Gulf Times at a recent event.Abu-Sharkh noted that tourism, logistics and manufacturing are the enablers that will fuel further growth for the country. “ In addition, there is massive investment in technology, digital areas, education and human capital development. Qatar’s financial sector is very matured and focused. All these will make the country perform very well in the coming years,” said the official.According to Abu-Sharkh, the huge investment in hydrocarbon sector will benefit the country primarily in several areas. He said: “Investment in tourism will bring more people into the country. Similarly investment in the manufacturing and logistics sectors will encourage people to invest in several areas such as retail, technology and many other areas. This will also help the government to allocate more money into these sectors, leading to more diversification of the economy.”The KPMG official said tourism has been one of the major focuses of the government particularly in the last few years. “The plans to introduce Schengen type of common visa for GCC countries will be a major boost for tourism. We can create synergies with the UAE and other countries to attract more tourists to Qatar. The museums, beaches, the beauty of the city and other experiences can be great attractions for tourism in Qatar,” he remarked.Abu-Sharkh highlighted that banks in Qatar are very strong and are doing well. “Qatar Central Bank is enhancing the banking system and is providing enablers that can help the banks perform better. Further to that, the 3rd Qatar National Development Strategy is a fantastic one with major enablers such as financial service sector, digital advancements, technology and education which can fuel great financial growth in the country in the near future,” he pointed out.“Qatar has been making huge investment in several areas especially in oil and gas. More investment in these areas will lead to more collaborations and will help form major partners from around the world. The core success of the country lies in human development and it is taking a great leap these days,” added Abu-Sharkh.

MES Indian School officials announcing the golden jubilee programme Monday. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam
Qatar
MES Indian School marks golden jubilee with numerous activities

MES Indian School, one of the first expatriate schools in Qatar and the first Indian school in the country is marking its golden jubilee this year. Started in 1974, the institution is celebrating the occasion with several programmes and activities throughout the year.During a press conference Monday, MES officials recounted the journey for the past 50 years and the milestones the school has achieved in the last five decades. Recalling the efforts to provide quality education for the community, MES School president, BM Sidhique said that it was a great struggle in the early years due to several constraints.“Fifty years ago, a vision was born—a vision of innovation, excellence, and ingenuity from our founders, whose unwavering commitment laid the foundation of our organisation. We owe our deepest gratitude to every member of our team - past and present.”According to the official, MES Indian School has carved a niche for itself in the academic, cultural, literary, sports, and games domain among the CBSE affiliated schools not only in the Gulf but also at the national level.“Currently the school with its sprawling campus and spacious classrooms has attained unparalleled status in imparting high-quality education ensuring a safe, child-centric, disciplined, techno-aided, and congenial learning environment thus ensuring holistic development of students through continuous progress,” he continued.As for the accolades and achievements of the schools, Sidhique noted that MES became an ISO-certified school in 2006, received the QNSA certification in 2016 and recently the school won Educational Excellence Award 2024 from Asianet News under the banner ‘Qatar Business Excellence Awards’.Principal, Dr Hameeda Kader said that more than 100 activities for various groups of stakeholders of the school are planned and being conducted all through the year.“Golden Jubilee year is a year of festivities and celebrations marking several events to commemorate the 50th year. MES FM Radio, 'The Golden Waves': was launched in April 2024. Epic Canvas- a Mega Painting competition, the Musical Reality Show, Elocution competitions in Arabic and Urdu, Ted X, and Golden Jubilee Marathon International are some of the activities for occasion,” said Kader.MES also started another school MES International School several years ago to cater to the educational needs of the burgeoning Indian population in Qatar. During the event the new logo of the school was launched. The press conference was also attended by senior vice president Dr Najeeb, general secretary Hazmal Ismail, treasurer Usman AT as well as several other management members and staff of the school.

Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani addressing the gathering.
Qatar
QCS digital platform to support cancer treatment

Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) on Sunday launched a digital platform named ‘Wayyakum,’ to support treatment of cancer patients in the country.The first such digital initiative in the Gulf region, the platform is dedicated to support the cost of treatment for the needy cancer patients. It provides a simplified and effective means for patients and their families to access the necessary financial support for treatment.The event was attended by several prominent figures in medicine, healthcare, charity, and humanitarian work from various institutions in Qatar, including the Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activities. This platform has been linked to 'Sanadi' - a specialised platform for organising domestic charitable aid within Qatar in collaboration with 23 partners from government and charitable institutions.Speaking to the media, QCS chairman HE Sheikh Dr Khaled bin Jaber al-Thani, said the intention was to make the application for financial support quite simple. Earlier people had to come to the QCS office and submit a manual application and the process took a long time, he recalled.HE Sheikh Dr Khaled explained: “Wayyakum is the simple way to submit an application where the needy people can upload all the information and documents required. Our target is to evaluate an application and approve it in two hours if it is in order. At the same time, everything will be dispatched electronically."So once it is approved, an auto-generated approval letter for treatment goes to the respective centre, for example, to the National Centre for Cancer Care and Research or to Sidra Medicine.”“All the systems are interlinked. Once the details are entered, the system will show that the patient has already been granted aid from QCS. So once they put the ID of the patient, it will show on the system if he or she has received any financial support from other charity organisations. So there will not be room for any duplication,” he noted.“The fund is provided depending on the cost of the treatment. We get an estimate from the respective institutions and approve it. Usually we have it capped at QR 50,000 and if required to pay more, we provide the additional amount too. Some people may need treatment for several years. So we decide accordingly,” explained, Sheikh Khaled.Last year QCS supported over 1,200 cancer patients and some of them are repeating cases this year too, he said. Since 2013, QCS has provided support and coverage of cost of cancer treatment. The number of beneficiaries until 2023 has reached 9,362 at a total cost of over QR101mn.'Wayyakum’ platform, can be accessed by visiting the QCS website or by downloading the 'Wayyakum' application from the app stores.Upon entering the platform, users are asked to create a new account and fill in the necessary information to complete the registration process, including personal data and financial expenses for the patient. They must also upload the required documents for the patient and attach a 'Sanadi' document.After submitting the request, users can track its status and verify it through the system, with the possibility of updating it if necessary.In addition, users will receive text messages about acceptance of the request or for additional updates.

The participants at the discussion.
Qatar
Qatar’s precision medicine research environment can attract pharma-biotech partners

Experts in pharmaceutical and biotech industries focused on the benefits and advantages of strategic partnerships for Qatar’s precision health goals during a recent discussion as Qatar Precision Health Institute (QPHI), a national centre for research and implementation, officially launched recently under Qatar Foundation.They considered the unique aspects of the regional research environment and investment landscape, focusing on Qatar as a hub for attracting the international life sciences industries to invest in precision health research.With a focus on strategic partnerships and meaningful collaborations, QPHI aims to address the evolving healthcare needs of Qatar while contributing to global efforts to advance precision healthcare. It is set to shape the future of healthcare in Qatar and the region through the implementation of precision diagnosis and treatments, paving the way for a healthier and more resilient future.Speaking on the topic "Building Partnerships with Pharma and Biotech in the Middle East," the experts explored the opportunities and challenges of fostering impactful research collaborations in precision health. Industry experts, representing companies at the forefront of genomics and precision medicine, included Dr Fahmi Satour, medical head, Gulf Countries, Roche; Dr Rana Lonnen, managing director, Novartis Venture Capital; Dr Ann Aerts, head of the Novartis Foundation; and Dr Mohamed Adel Ghanem, head of Healthcare Investments at Qatar Investment Authority. The session was moderated by Dr Eleni Fthenou, scientist at QPHI’s Qatar Biobank.Highlighting the importance of precision health and its ongoing development in Qatar, Dr Ghanem said: “Precision health is the right way to do healthcare and Qatar has been leading the way here with institutions like the Qatar Biobank and the Qatar Genome Programme. We are focusing on the right infrastructure and with the support and efforts of global pharma players, we can help not only the region, but the world.”Dr Aerts underscored the importance of access to medical data and advanced technological resources and capitalising on them to shift from traditional methods of healthcare. We need to do things differently, shift our mindset, and focus on being predictive, preventive, and proactive with our approach to healthcare. We must capitalize on this huge amount of data, massive computational power, and advanced computational technologies to help us shift from a reactive to a proactive approach to build preventive health systems.”The session also prioritised actionable insights for building and sustaining partnerships, including the collaborative role of venture capital investments in biomedical innovation and novel therapies.According to Dr Lonnen precision medicine is a top priority for every corporate investor in pharma. She also stressed the importance of collaboration and insisted that trust is an important part of any partnership.The panelists also touched on the mutual benefits and “win-wins” of partnerships in boosting the capabilities of both the biotech industry and the region’s healthcare institutes beyond clinical research and data access, especially to translate research discoveries into clinical settings.Dr Fahmi added: “The pharma industry can bring global reach, cutting edge technology, new ways of working, and agility. Whereas institutions like hospitals can help with their infrastructure and local reach and exposure. This is a win-win for all of us and also a win-win for patients."

Omar al-Ansari addressing the Qatar Economic Forum yesterday. PICTURE: Thajudheen.
Qatar
QRDI chief calls for 'Responsible innovation' for human progress

The chief of Qatar Research Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council has exhorted all the stakeholders to follow ‘responsible innovation’ for the true progress of humanity. "QRDI is mandated to harness global technological advancements and foster home grown innovations to enhance the resilience and economic prosperity of Qatar. Our commitment extends beyond mere technological advancements and achievements as we advocate responsible innovation. We aim for true progress that is inclusive and equitable, supporting innovation for all and not just for a few,” secretary general Omar al-Ansari stressed on Thursday.He was speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum 2024, where the final day was marked 'Innovation Day,' with QRDI as the innovation sponsor. Al-Ansari remarked: “QRDI believes in responsible innovation. We proactively consider the broader impact of the researchers and their work on the society and the environment.”Referring to the speech of HE the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohmed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, at the opening of the forum, al-Ansari said that the third Qatar National Development Strategy aggressively targets doubling the growth of R&D expenditure at the percentage of GDP to 1.6%, ensuring that the majority of the R&D is driven by innovative private sector and for Qatar to be among the top 30 in the global innovation index.Al-Ansari pointed out that throughout history, technological innovation has scripted the landscape of the society. He explained: “These innovations have dramatically transformed our way of life globally. From medical advancements that have extended the life expectancy worldwide, advancements in information and technology have bridged cultures and provided new opportunities for learning and enhanced global business.”While highlighting the positive impact of innovations, al-Ansari also reflected on the challenges that the innovations present for the new generation. “The innovations and the rapid advancements in technology present its own challenges. Many of these innovations have resulted in some negative consequences as well. We can no longer say with certainty that our children will live in a world that is better than ours,” he noted.He referred to several researches that point to tougher future times for the coming generations than the present generation. “Though excited about the incredible acceleration and impact of the innovation, there are also certain uncertainties about the benefits coming in the future,” he continued.He also called on various stakeholders to address the disparities in innovation especially between the Global South and the rest of the world. He asked the researchers to pioneer a global initiative that ensures all nations especially the Global South to have access to cutting-edge technologies and play a pivotal role in shaping the innovation agenda.Al-Ansari further appealed for deployment of innovations that serve as tools for social justice; innovation that are to be used for reducing economic disparities. “We need a robust partnership between governments and private partners and civil societies to develop a sustainable innovation ecosystem for long term societal gains,” he added.

Gulf Times
Qatar
Qatar-US relations are flourishing at great levels: US ambassador

The economic relationship between the United States and Qatar is ‘absolutely fabulous’ providing great opportunities for both the nations, noted US Ambassador Timmy Davis yesterday. Ambassador Davis was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Qatar Economic Forum 2024 being held at Raffles and Fairmont Doha.“It is not just because of what has already been done, but because of the opportunity in it what is going to come. I will lead a delegation of Qataris to Select USA, a forum where Qatari business leaders, Qatari government leaders would have opportunities to talk about how to invest in the United States. This relationship, I think can be a right model for the region. While Qatar is geographically smaller than some of the countries in the region, their ability to invest in the right places and create the right partners, is second to none in the region,” said Davis.Answering a question from 'Gulf Times', Davis said that what Qatar wants to do, mirrors what they are best at. He explained: “Qatar has a burgeoning agriculture industry here. I know that is going to be part of how they want to invest in the United States. In fact, I think agriculture is going to be a major topic for Qatar. They are obviously interested in technology. I have a trip planned to Silicon Valley in June that will include talking about opportunities in cybersecurity. AI is going to be a big deal and so I can see Qatar investing in those areas in the United States.”Ambassador Davis noted that the US offers immense opportunities for Qatar. He remarked: “We have always said that 50 states in the United States offer 50 or more different opportunities. Different tax structures, different visions for their future, the idea of sub national diplomacy, investment in the heartland in areas that don't get a lot of attention present a great deal of opportunity for Qatar and its businessmen.”The envoy continued that he is quite excited and satisfied with the current economic relationship with Qatar and the United States and more excited about what is to come. As for the co-operation in the education sector, Ambassador Davis said that the US universities are doing an excellent service here in Qatar providing such a valuable service, not just for Qatar but for the region and beyond.“The universities have done such a great service for people who could not have left Qatar to get an education in the United States. Having these six universities here, people come here from various parts of the world to these world-class universities. I find that absolutely heartening and remarkable. It says something about the ways we can absolutely work together.”He also recalled his recent conversation with Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson of Qatar Foundation and how the vision of Her Highness is reshaping the education scenario in the country and the region. He also said that several US educational institutions have keen interest in collaborating with Qatar and several joint researches and collaborations are already underway between Qatar and the US institutes.

Ambassador Timmy Davis interacting with the media on Tuesday. PICTURE: Thajudheen.
Qatar
Qatar-US relations are flourishing at great levels: US ambassador

The economic relationship between the United States and Qatar is ‘absolutely fabulous’ providing great opportunities for both the nations, noted US Ambassador Timmy Davis on Tuesday. Ambassador Davis was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Qatar Economic Forum 2024 being held at Raffles and Fairmont Doha.“It is not just because of what has already been done, but because of the opportunity in it what is going to come. I will lead a delegation of Qataris to Select USA, a forum where Qatari business leaders, Qatari government leaders would have opportunities to talk about how to invest in the United States. This relationship, I think can be a right model for the region. While Qatar is geographically smaller than some of the countries in the region, their ability to invest in the right places and create the right partners, is second to none in the region,” said Davis.Answering a question from 'Gulf Times', Davis said that what Qatar wants to do, mirrors what they are best at. He explained: “Qatar has a burgeoning agriculture industry here. I know that is going to be part of how they want to invest in the United States. In fact, I think agriculture is going to be a major topic for Qatar. They are obviously interested in technology. I have a trip planned to Silicon Valley in June that will include talking about opportunities in cybersecurity. AI is going to be a big deal and so I can see Qatar investing in those areas in the United States.”Ambassador Davis noted that the US offers immense opportunities for Qatar. He remarked: “We have always said that 50 states in the United States offer 50 or more different opportunities. Different tax structures, different visions for their future, the idea of sub national diplomacy, investment in the heartland in areas that don't get a lot of attention present a great deal of opportunity for Qatar and its businessmen.”The envoy continued that he is quite excited and satisfied with the current economic relationship with Qatar and the United States and more excited about what is to come. As for the co-operation in the education sector, Ambassador Davis said that the US universities are doing an excellent service here in Qatar providing such a valuable service, not just for Qatar but for the region and beyond.“The universities have done such a great service for people who could not have left Qatar to get an education in the United States. Having these six universities here, people come here from various parts of the world to these world-class universities. I find that absolutely heartening and remarkable. It says something about the ways we can absolutely work together.”He also recalled his recent conversation with Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson of Qatar Foundation and how the vision of Her Highness is reshaping the education scenario in the country and the region. He also said that several US educational institutions have keen interest in collaborating with Qatar and several joint researches and collaborations are already underway between Qatar and the US institutes.

Dr Abdulla Mohamed al-Suwaidi
Qatar
WCM-Q students reflect on journey, future plans

As the Class of 2024 of Weill Cornell Medicine in Qatar (WCM-Q) graduates, many of them recollected their journey that groomed them to be fine young medical doctors.Dr Hussam Kawas, who passed out with academic distinction and excellence in professionalism in the clinical curriculum noted that the campus life at WCM-Q was vibrant, dynamic and culturally diverse.“WCM-Q has provided me with unparalleled opportunities for hands-on learning, mentorship from esteemed faculty, and exposure to cutting-edge research, all of which have been instrumental in shaping my academic and career trajectory,” he said. Dr Kawas plans to pursue cardiology specialisation, and work in Qatar after completing the training to give back to the community.For Dr Abdulla Mohamed al-Suwaidi, the most significant milestone was the project he had worked on for incorporating a new method of teaching medical students how to examine patients. He plans to finish his internal medicine training at Hamad Medical Corporation and is considering a career in medical education.“I have seen the gaps in medical education, and WCM-Q gave me all the resources to fill them. I am grateful for all the support I have received from the WCM-Q faculty,” he said.Dr Ibrahim Khalid Saeed Laswi who graduated with academic distinction and honours in research feels that his campus life was very vibrant and supportive.“I am heading to Yale University to start my training in adult neurology. Following that, I plan on sub-specialising in vascular neurology. I hope to return to Qatar to utilise all my knowledge and skills to serve the community and improve healthcare in the region,”Dr Turki Almutairi who graduated with academic distinction and a number of other honours said that the most significant milestone during his time at WCM-Q was the matching into his residency programme of choice in his dream specialty of anaesthesiology.Dr Almutairi - the valedictorian at the convocation - hopes to become a board-certified anaesthesiologist and contribute to patient safety and quality care in the field. He said: “The rigorous curriculum, mentorship and support from WCM-Q was invaluable in helping me accomplish my goals. I aspire to provide the best possible care for my patients and remain humble in my pursuit of knowledge.”Dr Areej Nauman who graduated with academic distinction and several other honours said medicine is a challenging but rewarding profession which classically requires a lot of dedication and sacrifice.Dr Nauman plans to pursue neurology residency training at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. “One of the most valuable aspects of medical school at WCM-Q has been the privilege of gaining a diverse set of experiences both in Qatar as well as at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. It is this unique medical training which has made me strive to become a well-rounded physician who is confident and comfortable in my approach to patient care for people from all walks of life,” she added.

INSIDE PAGE PIC - Dignitaries and delegates at the conference. PICTURE: Thajudheen.
Qatar
Health minister honoured with 'Visionary Leader Award'

Qatar's Minister of Public Health, HE Dr Hanan Mohammed al-Kuwari was honoured with the 'Visionary Leader Award in Health System Excellence' by the Arab Hospitals Federation during the Arab Forum for Healthcare Development which began on Monday in Doha.The two-day forum, organised by the Arab Hospitals Federation is under the auspices of the Ministry of Public Health and supported by the strategic partner Hamad Medical Corporation, in collaboration with Arab ministries of health, WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean and other key stakeholders.Dr al-Kuwari was presented the honour by the Arab Hospitals Federation president M P Fadi Alame and general secretary Prof Tawfik Khoja for her great efforts in the development and progress of the Arab health sector. Dr Khaled Abdul Ghaffar, minister of health and population of the Egypt received the ‘Excellence Award in Public Health Improvement.’Dr al-Kuwari stressed the great importance of the forum's theme "Shaping the Future of Healthcare" and the important issues it discusses with the high-level participation of decision-makers, experts, and specialists from Qatar, the Arab region, and the world."In light of the developments and health challenges facing the global health system, the great importance of continuous work to develop health systems to be stronger, more resilient, and more sustainable, this forum is an important occasion to exchange the best experiences and successful practices in the region and the world to achieve the desired progress in the healthcare sector," Dr al-Kuwari said in a statement.She also noted that Qatar is keen to exchange successful experiences and distinguished models and maximise their benefit locally, regionally, and globally, in a way that contributes to achieving Qatar's national vision and health strategies, to serve the Qatari community and to enhance Arab and international cooperation in the health field.After the opening ceremony, there was a ministerial panel discussion on ‘ Future of Healthcare: Turning Challenges into Opportunities’ in which Sheikh Dr Mohammed bin Hamad al-Thani, director, Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention Programmes at the Ministry of Public Health highlighted the progress Qatar has made over the years in the health sector. “Strong collaboration with international partners, a clear vision, very effective and efficient system and focus on quality are some of the hallmarks of our healthcare management which have proved to make it a very resilient one.”The other panelists were Dr Khaled Abdul Ghaffar, minister of health and population of the Egypt, Joseph Hazel, CE of Elegancia Healthcare and Na’am Jamshed, vice president, Government Affairs and Policy, EMEA Emerging Markets, Johnson and Johnson.This year's forum covers several important topics, most notably the future of Arab healthcare, the integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, enhancing patient care, and the improvement of healthcare delivery, in addition to focusing on value-based care, sustainability, and digital healthcare transformation.The forum is attended by decision-makers in the Arab health sector, including ministers, heads of health authorities, government officials, representatives from relevant regional and international organisations, and key decision-makers in the healthcare sector from major institutions and international companies.

Azeeza Abu Zahra
Qatar
QF academics highlight need for greater cohesion to empower children with autism

Qatar Foundation ( QF) is highlighting the need for greater co-operation and cohesion among teachers, parents, counsellors and other stakeholders to promote a congenial learning atmosphere for children with autism.As April, the Autism Awareness Month draws to a close, some academic staff from QF schools told Gulf Times that people with autism need to be provided a ‘high level of structure and routine’ and teachers have to be very proactive.A psychologist working with QF affirmed that it is essential to approach each interaction of children with autism with patience, empathy, and flexibility.“Every child is unique, so understanding their individual needs, preferences, and challenges is crucial. I strive to create a supportive and structured environment where they feel safe to express themselves and learn at their own pace. I continuously educate myself on the latest research and interventions in autism to provide the best possible care for my young clients,” said, Chahnaz Baroudi, clinical psychologist, Renad Academy, QF.Baroudi said that the major factors to guide children with autism into the mainstream involve a multi-faceted approach.“Early intervention is key, including specialised education, behavioural therapies, social skills training, and support from various professionals such as speech therapists and occupational therapists. Collaboration between parents, educators, therapists, and community resources is essential to create inclusive environments that accommodate the unique needs of children with autism,” she explained.According to Baroudi, parental support and co-operation are vital for the success of interventions with children with autism.“My suggestions to parents of children with autism include prioritising early intervention, seeking out appropriate therapies and educational programmes, fostering a supportive and inclusive home environment, and advocating for their child's rights and access to resources. Parents play a crucial role in their child's development by providing love, encouragement, and opportunities for growth.”Brett Maclennan, a special education teacher at QF said that communication with autistic children needs to be very clear and precise. He said: “What neuro typical students learn innately, such as self-management and social skills, needs to be explicitly taught. They cannot just be taught typical Maths, English Science curriculum. They also need lessons on how to talk to people, how to manage friendships or how to access the community.“Along with the communication challenges, there is a whole sensory world that many of our students struggle to navigate. Coping and self-management strategies need to be taught and gradual exposure to these experiences is needed.”According to Maclennan, integration empowers individuals with autism and enriches the communities. “While there can be anxieties initially, fostering acceptance and providing reasonable accommodations like flexible work schedules can make a huge difference. I've seen firsthand how a student with autism blossomed in a supportive mainstream classroom, particularly in electronic media,” he noted.The academic stressed that inclusion shouldn't stop with school and said: “I'd love to see autism-friendly cinema showings, designated quiet shopping hours, and sensory-friendly spaces for those who become overwhelmed. This level of community support would be life-changing for the students.”Another QF special education teacher is of the view that providing a supportive and inclusive environment both in and out of the classroom is a major support for students with autism.“Understanding their unique needs and strengths is critical to effective education and interaction. I ensure I provide the visual schedule, rules, time, fidget toys, sensory aids, among others. It is essential to clarify to students the expectations before any activity, by showing a video or reading a related story. This will help them to decrease their anxiety,” said Azeeza Abu Zahra, a special education teacher at QF.“Parents contribute critical information about their child's abilities, struggles, preferences, and needs. Collaborating with parents enables a comprehensive approach to the child's education, establishing consistency between home and school settings. Parents play a significant part in this long journey by encouraging their children, actively participating in developing individualised education plans, providing emotional support, reinforcing skills learned in school, and collaborating with educators to promote their child's growth and success,” she added.

Gulf Times
Qatar
HMC clinic to manage patient flow with new approach

The Qatar Ambulatory Pulmonary sleep disorder Clinic is implementing a new approach to managing patient flow by integrating telemedicine follow-up and overbooking strategies to optimise technology and operational efficiency, ensure timely consultations and improve patient experience.The strategy outlined in the Qatar Medical Journal ‘Telemedicine: Potential impact of the future improved accessibility and waiting list to HGH Sleep Clinics through overbooking strategy, Hamad Medical Corporation ( HMC), Qatar’ and published on QScience.com highlights that the overbooking strategy, combined with telemedicine, can help streamline virtual appointments and ensure efficient use of healthcare professionals' time. It further points out that this can ultimately reduce waiting times and improve accessibility for patients seeking sleep-related healthcare services.According to the article by a group researchers from HMC, telemedicine usage is predicted to enhance care quality and reduce healthcare spending by 32%, boosting patient satisfaction, community trust, and teamwork, thereby reducing hospital resource burden and costs.The article points out that that with the wider use of telemedicine, the hotline service can also be established to optimise clinic efficiency, improve resource utilisation, and minimise waiting time for suboptimal diagnostic and therapeutic sleep tests. Thus, telemedicine has become a transformative force in healthcare.The telemedicine strategy can be used for virtual consultations and follow-up appointments reducing in-person visits. In addition, remote monitoring devices are another method to control the waiting time of the consultations. Home sleep apnea testing devices can be used for remote monitoring allowing electronic sharing with healthcare providers.This can also optimise scheduling with overbooking of appointments. It offers flexible appointment times for wider patient schedules. It also helps to strategically overbook slots to maximise utilisation of available time slots. It also leads to online appointment system user friendly platform and utilise automated reminders via email or SMS.With the implementation of the strategy at the Qatar Ambulatory Pulmonary sleep disorder Clinic, a multidisciplinary team was formed to review the clinic's current practices and identify barriers to patient flow. A strategy was chosen to integrate overbooking and telemedicine follow-up.Staff education and training were also provided. The team collaborated with HMC Nasmak to evaluate patient feedback and improve the patient experience. They also communicated with clinical informatics team to create encounters, improve electronic communications, and manage appointment systems. Monthly data collection was conducted to evaluate clinical performance and update practice.

A message board on a Doha road, displaying rain warning from Ashghal, urging motorists to slow down. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam.
Qatar
Qatar experiences moderate to heavy rains, strong winds

Moderate to heavy rains were recorded in various parts of Qatar for several hours from late on Monday, accompanied by strong winds. While the northern region experienced heavy rains and hail, several other parts of the country, including Doha, received only scattered to moderate rain.Thundery rain was observed in northern areas such as Shamal and Ruwais along with strong winds. According to Qatar Meteorology Department, total amount of rain reached about 45ml in the early afternoon Tuesday. Social media is abuzz with videos of heavy rains in the northern parts of the country as well as the rough and turbulent waves in the sea.The Met department said that thundery rain accompanied with hail was observed at several parts of the northern region. By evening the department said that there could be thundery rains along with dusty winds mainly northeasterly to northwesterly with high speed.Meanwhile, other parts of the country received moderate to scattered rain. In addition, most parts of Qatar experienced very heavy winds and the seafront areas witnessed very rough and turbulent sea with very high waves lashing the shores. However, most parts of Doha had only scatted rains and the traffic was normal with no major incidents. The city had overcast conditions most of the time during the day.With the Eid holidays coming to an end, it was expected that all the students would start their academic session from Tuesday. However, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education had warned about the adverse weather conditions and instructed educational institutes to provide classes online for the day.Financial institutes such as the banks worked remotely with most branches closed for the day and only select branches, mostly in malls, functioned.Various parts of the region have been experiencing heavy rains for the last several days. Parts of Oman, the UAE and Saudi Arabia witnessed very heavy rains resulting in several causalities.

Dr Shona Pedersen
Qatar
QU led research offers hope for early detection of blood cancer

A collaborative research team involving Qatar University (QU) professors and international researchers have made a breakthrough in decoding the potential blood markers that could lead to early detection of multiple myeloma (MM), an elusive and incurable blood cancer.This heralds a future where doctors can detect MM at its earliest stages, granting patients a powerful edge in confronting the disease.According to an article on the latest edition of *QU Research Magazine by the research team lead and associate professor of biochemistry at QU’s College of Medicine, Dr Shona Pedersen, the research team used advanced metabolomics and biostatistics to decode the blood markers that could be used for early detection of MM.The collaborative research team included Prof Soren Kristensen from Denmark’s Aalborg University Hospital, Prof Trygve Andreassen from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and Prof Mohamed Elrayess, associate professor at QU’s Biomedical Research Centre.MM, the second most common blood cancer, remains a challenging medical enigma.It is a disease marked by diagnostic setbacks, recurrent relapses and no definitive cure.Interestingly, MM begins its course covertly as Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS), but with time, manifests symptoms like bone pain, anaemia, kidney issues and infections.Detecting MM early can dramatically alter the disease trajectory, enhancing both prognosis and survival.However, the absence of a straightforward blood test for early detection is a significant gap.“At present, our grasp of the metabolic changes between MGUS and MM is in its nascent stages, with only a handful of publications shedding light on MM’s metabolic nuances,” said Dr Pedersen. “Our study endeavoured to sharpen the molecular lens through which we view this relentless disease, pinpointing potential metabolites before they manifest clinically, thereby paving the way for more proactive interventions.”The team employed Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to contrast the serum metabolomes of healthy subjects with those diagnosed with MGUS and MM.Through the application of NMR spectroscopy, their findings showcased a marked deviation in amino acids as MGUS takes shape.Delving into the metabolic profiles of MGUS patients, it was observed that levels of alanine, lysine and leucine were diminished, while formic acid levels surged in comparison to controls.The research group delved deep into the intricate relationships intertwining the clinical characteristics of MM patients, specific metabolites and certain lipoprotein subfractions.They identified a strong correlation between levels of M-protein and serum proteins.The team highlighted these specific lipoprotein subfractions as pivotal markers closely associated with the transition from MGUS to full-blown MM.By shedding light on biological pathways previously undetected in plasma or bone marrow samples, they offer fresh perspectives on the journey from premalignant MGUS to malignant MM.Furthermore, profiling serum metabolites offers invaluable data, facilitating the discovery of novel biomarkers.These can significantly improve early detection and intervention for MGUS and MM.“This study offers more than knowledge – it provides a beacon of hope,” Dr Pedersen said. “By identifying these lipoprotein subfractions as potential early markers, we have opened the doors to possible early intervention strategies.”“The earlier we can detect and intervene in the development of MM, the brighter the prognosis for those affected by this malignancy,” she concluded.

Three research institutes under QF's Hamad Bin Khalifa University conduct research in areas of national priority for Qatar.
Qatar
QF funds over 4,800 projects to transform Qatar into global innovation leader

Qatar Foundation (QF) has been at the forefront in Qatar’s efforts to transform the nation to a knowledge economy, triggering decisive change through research and innovation.According to its website, QF has been curating big ideas and creating platforms to spark the next great breakthroughs. “We are helping position the nation as a global research and innovation nerve centre with an ecosystem focused on developing ideas with impact. Across the fields of IT, energy, environment and healthcare, QF’s focus on Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) is bringing new technologies into the global marketplace, and identifying new challenges and opportunities,” QF says.As for the efforts in this direction, QF has been able to achieve a lot since it started which is evident in the numbers, it has provided.Accordingly, QF has funded over 4,800 projects between 2007 and 2018 and has invested over$1.4bn through Qatar National Research Fund.A total of 331 inventions have been created by QF research and development ecosystem and 42 Startups have been developed by Qatar Science & Technology Park since 2016. So far eight patents have been granted to QF inventions.With every initiative, QF remains focused on generating economic value, transferring knowledge, and establishing national and international RDI partnerships that align with Qatar’s needs and priorities.“We are helping our homegrown researchers and innovators together with experts from around the world to address our biggest challenges. In our quest to make Qatar a leading hub for research and innovation, we have built several pioneering initiatives that are triggering transformative change across the nation, the region, and the world at large,” notes, QF.QF aims to make sure that its research projects span a wide range of industries and themes to create meaningful, multisectoral difference on the challenges the country face.One major aspect of its research programme is collaboration as it has tied up with organisations and institutions from around the world to facilitate the transfer of ideas, jointly address areas of interest, and multiply the reach and benefits of the research and innovation.With organisations as diverse as Tübitak in Turkey, to Boeing, Harvard University, and MIT in the United States, QF global partnerships span the spectrum of industry, academia, tech development and entrepreneurship, and public policy.QF initiatives also engages thought-leaders from around the world to gather ideas and spark conversations on some of the world’s most pressing challenges. From multidisciplinary research conferences to global summits and programmes on healthcare and education, QF is building diverse networks of citizens, activists, policymakers, and academics united by their goal of making change happen.QF has set up three specialised research institutes operating under the umbrella of Hamad Bin Khalifa University and all of them are focused on conducting pioneering research in areas of national priority for Qatar, supporting sustainable development and economic diversification goals, while having the potential to benefit the world. The three research institutes: Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, Qatar Computing Research Institute and Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute are focusing on some of the most pressing challenges that the country faces. “Our ecosystem isn’t about infrastructure. It is about ideas and enabling them to develop naturally to the point where they become commercialised products. We don’t force innovation to happen. But we make sure it can,” added, Hayfa al-Abdulla, innovation director at Qatar Science & Technology Park.