* Qatar Foundation also working to develop application for diagnosis and monitoring, in co-operation with QCRI
* QF centres have provided HMC with equipment to help speed up laboratory testing procedures
* More than 85,000 lab tests conducted

Qatar Foundation (QF) is working to develop a test that will help in terms of determining the presence of Covid-19, in addition to developing potential treatment mechanisms.

Besides, QF is also working to develop an application for diagnosis and monitoring, in co-operation with Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI), according to Sheikh Dr Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani, director of the Public Health Department at the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH).

In an interview with the official Qatar News Agency (QNA), Sheikh Dr Mohamed said QF's research, development and innovation centres have provided Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) with some of the equipment available in order to help speed up laboratory testing procedures.

Regarding the number of examinations that are being carried out to detect the virus, he said laboratories affiliated with the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at HMC have been conducting the necessary medical lab tests from the beginning. The total number of laboratory exams have exceeded 85,000, involving modern techniques.

He said the expansion of central laboratories contributed to enhancing the ability to have a larger number of tests daily, while work is currently under way on importing modern and certified reagents that will enable more to be tested and get results faster.

The director of Public Health also referred to the scientific studies carried out by QF in co-operation with HMC and some external parties on the use of Artificial Intelligence, genomics and other advanced technologies used to combat the novel coronavirus outbreak. These are in addition to what Qatar University is currently doing, in co-operation with some international research centres, as it conducts six studies on Covid-19.

He also revealed that licensed practitioners in the private sector were recently allowed to work in treatment institutions in the government sector in order to strengthen the medical and paramedical staff in the face of the coronavirus and provide more and faster medical and nursing services.