*Stress on high quality integrated family medicine model of care and preventative health

Setting an ambitious goal of providing high quality integrated family medicine model of care in the country, the Primary Health Care Corporation(PHCC) on Monday launched its Corporate Strategy Plan 2019-2023.
Under the theme,“A Healthier Future for Our Families” the strategy was unveiled in the presence of HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari.
There are six priority areas, 20 strategic goals and 80 strategic activities in the programme. The priority areas are: High quality integrated family medicine model of care; focus on preventative health, highly skilled and motivated workforce, strong partnerships with patients, families and communities; enhanced primary care system and collaboration for care and patient safety and effective, innovative organisation. 
The launch event was also attended Dr Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani, director of Public Health Department at the Ministry of Public Health; Prof Lord Darzi of Denham, vice chair of the Board of Governors, Sidra Medicine; several dignitaries and over 200 healthcare professionals from Qatar.
“This plan supports the vision for a safe, sustainable and high-quality primary care service provided in modern premises. PHCC has achieved much over the past five years and our goal is to ensure the quality of primary care meets the health needs of the population,” Dr al-Kuwari, commented.
Dr Mariam Abdulmalik, managing director of PHCC, highlighted that the new plan will be very important for Qatar’s healthcare system. 
“Qatar is entering a new era of health care delivery; PHCC has the right outlook to think in terms of integrated care for further development of Qatar’s healthcare system. When you look at a successful national healthcare model, one that is fully integrated into a primary care setting, you’re typically looking at a reduction of 30% emergency room visits, sometimes for the higher needs and higher risk groups, up to 50% drop in emergency visits,” explained Dr Abdulmalik.
“You’re also looking at a huge drop in specialty care visits because patients are getting their needs met at primary care. There is no doubt that PHCC is a well-positioned leader in the ongoing effort to transform the state’s health care system,” she added.
Steve Emery, assistant managing director, Strategy Planning, PHCC and Dr Mohamed Ghaith al- Kuwari, executive director, Strategy Planning & Business and Health Intelligence at PHCC also spoke at the launch event highlighting the priorities and key programmes of the strategy.
The plan focuses on providing more comprehensive services, integrated care, shifting the balance of care from curative, hospital-based treatment to enhanced preventative, health and wellness services in the community.