The ‘busiest’ health centre
Dear Sir,
This is in response to the letter, “Monitor clinics’ staff performance”, by DK (Gulf Times, November 3).
First, the Primary Health Corporation (PHCC) would like to thank all reviewers on their continuous and effective communication towards improving and upgrading the quality of services provided. We also would like to extend our thanks to DK for his trust in the health services provided by the State of Qatar and his praise for the ongoing development plans for these services.
In reference to his specific complaint about the Al Wakra Health Centre, we would like to inform the following:
The Al Wakra Health Centre is one of the busiest clinics in Qatar because of the steadily increasing population of the Al Wakrah city. Because of this, each doctor at the health centre often has to examine between 50 and 60 patients per day.
This explains why sometimes the reception staff runs out of tokens after 7pm. Furthermore, the staff at the reception have to inform the patient that there are a certain number of patients before him, waiting to see the doctor, and it will take certain time before his own turn comes. That is the usual procedure as the health centre’s management believes that patients have the right to be aware of the time remaining to be checked by a doctor.
With regard to the complaint on the “lack of the doctor’s knowledge” of medicines’ names, one must understand that the doctor is dealing with the scientific names of the medicines and these vary according to the brands available at the pharmacy.
This does not mean a lack of knowledge on the part of the doctor about the medicine’s name; in fact it proves the doctor’s keenness not to write any name before ensuring the availability of the medicine.
PHCC is doing its best to improve and provide quality services to the community. It is also committed to train and develop staff in order to raise their standards.
The Hayyak service has been introduced at health centres to help meet the needs of visitors and to respond to their enquiries and observations after listening to their feedback and considering them.
PHCC welcomes suggestions and comments which will contribute in motivating and developing its improvement plans.
Communication and PR department in PHCC, PO Box 26555, Doha
Israeli violations
Dear Sir,
The continuing violations of human rights by Israel pose a big challenge to international forums and organisations.
According to press reports, the Israeli government has imposed a travel ban on Norwegian surgeon and human rights activist Mads Gilbert. Gilbert was working in Gaza Al Shifa hospital during the recent Israeli war on Gaza.
More than 600 children had lost their lives in Gaza and 80% medical facilities there had been destroyed by the relentless Israeli attacks.
Gilbert has openly criticised Israel’s brutal use of force against the Palestine’s civilian population.
Israel has just announced 20 years of prison terms for stone-throwing in Gaza. An order by the Israeli prime minister to raze the homes of suspected resistance fighters has been widely criticised by human rights organisations. The order is against the Geneva convention. According to human rights organisations, Israel is also using capital punishment as a weapon of war.
Despite worldwide condemnation, illegal settlement activities by Israel are still continuing in occupied areas.
Israeli practices like these have turned all peace attempts into farce.
Khawaja Umer Farooq, ofarooq@emailsrvc.com