The Tobacco Control Centre at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) participated in a virtual session held by the World Heath Organisation (WHO) recently. The session was held to discuss the cost coverage of treating the effects of smoking, especially the cost of consultations, visits and treatment. The session is part of the activities prepared by WHO to celebrate the international day for smoking cessation 2021 under the slogan 'Commit to Smoking Cessation'.
The session discussed the primary role of health or social insurance companies to cover the costs of consultations and to provide treatment for smokers. Experts from WHO in Geneva participated in the session along with an expert from New Zealand.
Dr Ahmad al-Mulla, head of HMC’s Smoking Cessation Centre, presented a brief on smoking cessation services in Qatar, which are provided by HMC, including all the necessary medications provided to citizens and residents free of charge to help them quit smoking, which results in reducing treatment costs caused by smoking and the negative smoking effects.
A recent study conducted in co-operation with the health council for GCC showed that the cost of treating smoking-related diseases in 2016 in Qatar was around $895mn, which is more QR3bn. Some 142 specialists attended the session, which included speakers from WHO in Geneva such as Dr Rodger Karsh, head of Health Awareness; Dr Robert Totans from Social Determinants of Health; and Dr Leah Strorges, senior consultant in smoking cessation, New Zealand.
Attendees stressed the importance of covering the costs of treatments by health insurance companies as smoking cessation is strongly related to the reduction of health services costs in countries and recommended a support and activation by WHO.
HMC’s Smoking Cessation Centre urges smokers to benefit from the services provided by the centre to help themselves quit smoking. People can contact the centre by calling 40254981 or 50800959.
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