* PHCC temporarily ceases provision of Covid-19 PCR swabs at health centres for people travelling abroad
* Move comes as healthcare system diverts resources to ramp up Covid-19 measures
 
 
The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) has temporarily ceased the provision of Covid-19 PCR swabs at its health centres for people travelling abroad.
Accordingly, private sector healthcare facilities will provide all Covid-19 PCR swabbing for such people.
This decision, along with some important service changes announced by Hamad Medical Corporation, come as the healthcare system diverts resources to its Covid-19 measures, Qatar News Agency reported Sunday.
PHCC health centres and medical teams are at the forefront of the National Covid-19 Vaccination Programme, and with staff working round the clock administering vaccines in addition to the continued provision of all urgent and essential healthcare services, it has been decided to temporarily transfer the provision of Covid-19 PCR swabs for people travelling abroad to private healthcare facilities, the QNA report states.
"Our healthcare teams are working hard to administer Covid-19 vaccines in all 27 primary health centres as well as the Qatar National Convention Centre, seven days a week. Additionally, PHCC staff are providing Covid-19 track and trace services, swabs for suspected cases, close contacts and anyone showing signs and symptoms of the virus," explained Dr Samya al-Abdulla, executive director of Operations at PHCC.
"With the recent rise in Covid-19 cases in Qatar, our healthcare staff are under enormous pressure. The decision to temporarily stop providing PCR swabs for people travelling abroad in primary health centres has been made to ensure we prioritise our resources on providing services for people with Covid-19 and for those being vaccinated as well as continue to provide essential primary care services and walk-in urgent care in our health centres," Dr al-Abdulla continued.
"Accordingly, the provision of Covid-19 PCR swabs for people travelling abroad is transferred to the private healthcare sector except for Qatari nationals who are travelling abroad for essential medical treatment and Qatari students who are studying abroad. When the second wave is suppressed and pressure is eased on our healthcare teams, we will recommence this important service at our health centres," she added.

MoPH on Sunday published on its social media channels the following list of 44 health facilities that have been approved to conduct Covid-19 swab tests:

Al Emadi Hospital; Turkish Hospital; Doha Clinic Hospital; Al-Ahli Hospital; Queen Hospital; Dr Moopen's Aster Hospital; Magrabi Center for Eye, ENT & Dental; Elite Medical Center; West Bay Medicare; Syrian American Medical Center; Future Medical Center; Dr Khaled Al Sheikh Ali's Medical Center; Al Jufairi Diagnosis and Treatment; Al Ahmadani Medical Center; Imara Health Care; KIMS Qatar Medical Centre; Allevia Medical Center; Aster Medical Centre Plus-Al Muntazah; Al Jameel Medical Center; Atlas Medical Center; Al Tahrir Medical Center; Naseem Al Rabeeh Medical Centre Doha; Naseem Al Rabeeh Medical Centre; New Naseem Al Rabeeh Medical Centre; Aster Medical Centre-Al Khor; Al Kayyali Medical Center; Abeer Medical Center; Al Esraa Polyclinic; Value Medical Complex; Asian Medical Center WLL; Dr Maher Abbas Polyclinic; Sidra Medicine; Al Mansoor Polyclinic; Nova Healthcare; Al Sultan Medical Center; Alfardan Medical with Northwestern Medicine; Raha Medical Center WLL; Al-Shefa Polyclinic - D-Ring Road; Planet Medical Center; Qatar Petroleum - Al Salata; Al-Shefa Polyclinic - Kharaitiyat; Aster Medical Centre Plus, Wellcare Polyclinic; and Tadawi Medical Center.