Ushering in a new phase in achieving precision medicine in Qatar, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, was presented with the first Qatari gene chip (Q-chip) at the opening ceremony of World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) 2018 in Doha yesterday.
The ceremony was also attended by His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.
Handing over the Q-chip to Her Highness Sheikha Moza, HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari said: “Your Highness, you set a target for medicine and research in Qatar and now your vision is real. This chip signifies the beginning of a new era in personalised medicine in Qatar.
“Qatar Genome and Qatar Biobank, in collaboration with Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar, Sidra Medicine and Hamad Medical Corporation, would like to offer Her Highness Sheikha Moza the first version of the Qatar chip. This chip contains over half a million DNA mutations and variants that can be used in diagnosing various diseases as well as in national screening programmes.”
“With over 10,000 whole genomes sequenced and Version 1 of the Q-chip, the first Qatari gene array, the Qatar Genome is now set to embark on its next phase, which will be geared to clinical applications and personalised medicine,” she explained.
“We want to understand the genetic heritage of the Qatari population so that we can develop more personalised healthcare in Qatar in the future. We also want this work to support the international conversation about how we use genomics to prevent suffering in the future.”
The Qatar Genome Project will be prioritised as a national health strategy named Qatar Precision Medicine, Her Highness Sheikha Moza had announced on Monday.
According to HE Dr al-Kuwari, the values of excellence, learning, sharing and  partnering are true to Qatari culture.
“His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has set out a path in Qatar National Vision 2030 to create a country that is a beacon of intellectual and cultural excellence and that is open to the world,” she noted. HE Dr al-Kuwari also highlighted the massive developments in healthcare infrastructure and facilities as well as the achievements of Qatar in the medical sector in recent years.
“All these developments in our healthcare system would not have been possible without the vision and ambition of our country’s wise leadership. We are forever indebted to His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani for the seeds he has sown, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser for investing in education and health for the people of Qatar, and to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani for his wisdom and ambition for Qatar,” HE the minister said.
“Our rapid expansion of healthcare has continued and the quality of services continues to rise. Qatar’s health ranking within the Legatum Prosperity Index has risen from 27th in the world in 2008 to 13th at present. Last night (Monday), Her Highness Sheikha Moza officially opened the new Sidra Medicine, our ultramodern, state-of-the-art new 400-bed hospital focusing on women and children,” she stressed.
“These last two years, we have opened four purpose-built new hospitals with state-of-the-art digital technology: the Communicable Disease Center, Women’s Wellness and Research Center, Qatar Rehabilitation Institute and the Ambulatory Care Center. Over the last two years, we have also opened eight wellness and primary health centres, bringing care closer to where our patients live,” HE the minister explained.
“Earlier this year, we launched our new National Health Strategy that maps our road for the next four years and has public health at its heart. Our aim is to provide the highest-quality treatment for our patients, combined with rigorous measures to monitor and prevent disease and effective interventions to maintain a healthy population, free from the modern scourges of diabetes, respiratory diseases and cancer,” she added.