Hamad Medical Corporation's Adult Allergy and Immunology Division has been designated as a Center of Excellence by the World Allergy Organisation — a worldwide alliance of allergy and clinical immunology societies.
HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari highlighted the achievement as another example of Qatar's continued success in the journey towards providing a world-class healthcare system through the delivery of high-quality, international standard patient care.
"The Adult Allergy and Immunology Division provides essential care, support, and education to our community. This prestigious designation demonstrates that we are continually striving to provide patients with a quality healthcare service that meets the highest international standards," HE Dr al-Kuwari said. "The commitment of the team and their focus on delivering the highest standard of care to our patients is a great testament to this achievement."
The World Allergy Organisation is an international umbrella organisation whose members consist of 103 regional and national allergology and clinical immunology societies worldwide. WAO Centers of Excellence (WCOE) support multidisciplinary scientific and clinical innovation, education, and advocacy worldwide, providing excellence in education, research, training to various stakeholders in allergy, asthma, and clinical immunology.
HMC's Adult Allergy and Immunology Division is the first in the GCC region to attain this status and joins similar programmes in some of the most well-known hospital and health systems in the world. The Senior Consultant, Head of Department and Programme Director of Fellowship Training Programme, Adult Allergy and Immunology Section Dr Maryam Ali al-Nesf al-Mansouri, said this was the only service in the country that caters to adults with allergic and immunodeficiency diseases.
"This division provides an essential range of testing and treatment options for our patients, and we are delighted to receive this international recognition," Dr al-Nesf said.
"This designation is a testimony to the continued dedication and quality of service provided by the team. Our clinicians and nurses all work together to ensure that our patients receive the highest quality care."
Currently, the service operates 21 clinics per week, including a Severe Asthma Clinic, Severe Urticaria clinic, and two Immunodeficiency clinics. The facility includes an Allergy Lab, a research room, and infusion service, and it receives more than 2,500 new referrals per year on average.
A wide range of disorders is dealt with by the team, including allergic rhinitis, asthma, food allergies, drug allergies, different types of urticaria, atopic dermatitis, hereditary angioedema, anaphylaxis, food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis, and primary immunodeficiency disorders. HMC's Allergy and Immunology Service has also been accredited as an Urticaria Center of Reference and Excellence (UCARE) and an Angioedema Center of Reference and Excellence (ACARE) and the Global Allergy & Asthma European Network (GALEN). Besides, the Combined Allergy and Immunology Fellowship Training in HMC is an ACGME-I accredited programme.
