QRC fund to treat 150 poor patients

Qatar Red Crescent (QRC)’s Patient Support Fund (PSF) will this year treat 100 poor patients and procure medical equipment for 50 patients with a total budget of QR2.5mn.

According to a QRC statement, the organisation will continue to serve Qatari society through PSF, which is one of its major permanent health empowerment projects conducted locally.

This fund provides financial and in-kind assistance for poor patients to cover some or all of the costs of their treatment according to certain criteria, in co-ordination with state health authorities and Hamad Medical Corporation.

The project pays for surgical operations, medication, medical equipment, and travel tickets if needed for severe cases that cannot afford treatment or healthcare, promoting social solidarity, in light of Islamic teachings.

The PSF fund receives donations of Qatari benefactors and institutions. One can send an SMS with the letter “R” to 92769 to donate QR100.

Ever since its launch in 2002, the PSF has played an important role in supporting poor patients.

An Indian expat Mohamed Basheer, who received treatment through the QRC fund, said: “Thanks a lot to QRC. I have been working for years in the service of the people of this good land, leaving my wife and three children alone in India. Unfortunately, I suffered a cardiac artery occlusion and was unable to work. I did not have enough money to make the necessary surgery, but QRC’s kind hearts covered all the costs, helping me recover, come back to work, and secure a good living for myself and my family.”

Manal al-Sulaiti, director, QRC Social Development Department, said: “We aspire to make the PSF an umbrella of social welfare through which to help the poorest segments of our society who cannot afford the costs of their treatment.”

She pointed out that health empowerment was part of QRC’s social development programmes that secured medicines and medical services for patients in Qatar.

During 2013-2014, the fund received more than 220 cases, including cardiac problems, different cancers, cochlear implants, liver transplants, bone marrow transplants, renal diseases, Thalassemia, body part replacements, and hearing aids, with an overall budget of QR 2.5mn.