* Work can resume across all specialties from Monday
Work can resume in all specialties at private healthcare facilities in Qatar from Monday, but services provided should not exceed 40% of their maximum capacity, a circular issued by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Healthcare Facilities Licensing & Accreditation Department, Saturday said.
The easing of restrictions is part of the government's plan to lift the Covid-19 curbs in a phased manner.
As announced recently, the four-phase lifting of restrictions begins on June 15, followed by the second stage on July 1, the third on August 1 and the fourth and final on September 1.
The MoPH circular explains the implementation of the gradual lifting of Covid-19 restrictions for the private healthcare sector for Phase 1, starting Monday:
1. Work may resume in all health specialties.
2. Clinical operations at the healthcare facilities should not exceed 40% of the maximum capacity.
3: Continuing to provide tele-medicine services as much as possible.
4: Continue to suspend health services delivered at home (home visits by doctors, physical therapy, etc) except for nursing services provided through long-term contracts.
5: Adherence to the following instructions at all times:
The easing of restrictions is part of the government's plan to lift the Covid-19 curbs in a phased manner.
As announced recently, the four-phase lifting of restrictions begins on June 15, followed by the second stage on July 1, the third on August 1 and the fourth and final on September 1.
The MoPH circular explains the implementation of the gradual lifting of Covid-19 restrictions for the private healthcare sector for Phase 1, starting Monday:
1. Work may resume in all health specialties.
2. Clinical operations at the healthcare facilities should not exceed 40% of the maximum capacity.
3: Continuing to provide tele-medicine services as much as possible.
4: Continue to suspend health services delivered at home (home visits by doctors, physical therapy, etc) except for nursing services provided through long-term contracts.
5: Adherence to the following instructions at all times:
* Receiving clients only through pre-booked appointments, except for emergency and urgent care services.* Allocating a clinic time of no less than 40 minutes for each client with each doctor or care provider.* Allow clients to enter the healthcare facility only five minutes before the scheduled appointment time.* Check the Covid-19 status of the clients and health workers through the Ehteraz application.* Check the temperature for clients and workers upon entering the health facility.* Clients may be allowed to wait within the healthcare facility, provided the space allocated to each client is not less than 9sqm and that the distance between two clients is 1.5-2m.* It is not allowed to mix clients with respiratory infections or fever with other clients. Instead, they must be separated in separate waiting rooms, one room each.* All workers and clients must wear face masks all the time.* The facility must provide appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for health workers.* Provide full protection (full PPE) for health workers when making interventions that generate aerosols or splashes (for instance, dental procedures).* Frequent disinfection of examination rooms, chairs, treatment rooms and waiting rooms according to the infection control rules of the MoPH.* Applying strict physical distancing while providing care and maintaining a safe distance except during doing medical examinations or procedures.* Utilisation of single-use tools as much as possible, which must be disposed of immediately according to the MoPH standards.* Compliance with the rules and guidelines of the MoPH regarding the health of workers at the health facility and the need to monitor their health status.
Violating these rules will expose the health facility concerned to legal accountability, the circular states.
The circular was issued by Noora Abdulla Mohamed al-Mulla, acting director of the Healthcare Facilities Licensing & Accreditation Department.
The circular was issued by Noora Abdulla Mohamed al-Mulla, acting director of the Healthcare Facilities Licensing & Accreditation Department.
