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The Sixth International Primary Health Care Conference hosted by the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) commences today at Ritz-Carlton Hotel, under the patronage and attendance of HE Mansoor bin Ebrahim bin Saad al-Mahmoud, Minister of Public Health.The conference will gather a wide range of leaders, experts, and representatives of health and research organisations from around the world. This event aims to solidify Qatar’s standing as a recognised leader in global dialogue on the future of health and to strengthen international co-operation in medicine and primary care.Hosting this conference in Doha reflects Qatar’s steadfast commitment to building strong, integrated, and resilient health systems capable of meeting the needs of its population while keeping pace with global advances in medicine, technology, and scientific research. The conference brings together a diverse global community of healthcare professionals, policymakers, researchers, and educators — united by a shared mission: to safeguard health and improve quality of life.As the world undergoes rapid transformations that bring increasingly complex challenges — from pandemics and their social and health impacts, to climate change and its implications for human well-being, to shifting economies and the evolving needs of societies — primary health care remains the heart of health equity and the foundation of community well-being. It is where care begins, trust is built, and lives are touched every single day.The conference aims to explore the latest scientific developments and international best practices in primary health care, showcasing innovative experiences from various countries that contribute to developing mechanisms for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and health promotion. It also seeks to strengthen global partnerships and facilitate the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and scientific research among medical and academic institutions.More than a thousand specialists — including physicians, researchers, experts, and policymakers — will take part in the conference, alongside strong representation from regional and international health organisations, making it one of the largest specialised scientific gatherings in the region. The programme features an extensive range of scientific sessions, interactive lectures, and workshops focused on quality of health services, workforce empowerment, the future of artificial intelligence in medicine, innovation in chronic disease management, as well as research presentations and scientific posters by scholars and students from Qatar and beyond.PHCC continues to advance Qatar’s global position in the health sector by investing in human capital, supporting scientific research, developing health-care infrastructure, and expanding preventive and educational services. This conference offers a valuable platform for building new collaborations, exchanging future visions, and strengthening continuing professional education in support of national health strategies. 

Students at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) have launched the college’s very first student-led magazine.The Mawj Science Magazine was founded to provide a voice for the student body, foster a spirit of enquiry and scientific interest among students, and share news of groundbreaking innovation in biomedical science and education, a statement said.The inaugural edition of Mawj, which means 'wave' in Arabic, features dozens of articles written by WCM-Q students on a wide range of topics, including the mental health of medical professionals, paediatric epilepsy, how technological advances are redefining medical education, the link between gut-brain health and autism, student research projects investigating the effectiveness of traditional remedies, and accounts of student contributions to medical conferences, among other stories. The online magazine also features articles by WCM-Q faculty.Second-year medical student Ubaida al-Aani is the founder and editor-in-chief of Mawj. Student contributors Sama Ayoub, Noor Numan, Amani Benamor, Batoul Arabi, Sama al-Saffar, and Nisarga Natesha Kumuda penned articles for the launch edition.Faculty member Christine Gaskell, senior teaching specialist in pre-medical education and a PhD student, contributed an article on her research, which explores the biological nexus between obesity and cancer through lifestyle and microbiome pathways.Dr Javaid Sheikh, dean of WCM-Q, hoped that Mawj will be a great success and provide an extremely valuable platform for collaboration among the thriving community of student researchers, supporting their ambitions to pursue excellence in medicine by continuously advancing the boundaries of research in clinical care, biomedical research and medical education. Mawj Science Magazine can be read at https://mawjmagazine.org/ 

Sidra Medicine, a member of Qatar Foundation, has announced the graduation of 24 high school students from its first Future Doctor Programme, an immersive educational initiative to introduce young learners to the world of modern medicine.The Future Doctor Programme is hosted at Sidra Medicine’s state-of-the-art Simulation Centre and offers students a structured, five-day experience that mirrors real clinical environments. Led by a team of Simulation instructors and cross-departmental clinical educators, the programme includes interactive workshops, multi-station simulation training using advanced manikins, and guided clinical exposure.Prof Ibrahim Janahi, chief medical officer and chair, Medical Education at Sidra Medicine, said: “Nurturing the next generation of healthcare professionals is a core pillar of our mission at Sidra Medicine. The Future Doctor Programme provides students with real, hands-on exposure to the world of medicine and research.We are incredibly proud of the 24 graduates who have demonstrated passion, curiosity, and commitment to learning, playing a role in redefining the future of healthcare in Qatar.” As part of the curriculum, students completed Basic Life Support and CPR accredited by the American Heart Association, alongside introductory skills in first aid, emergency response, and patient communication.The programme is delivered by Sidra Medicine’s clinical and technical experts, ensuring that participants learn in a safe, supportive, and highly specialized environment. Dr Murtada Hammad, director, Medical Education Operations at Sidra Medicine, added: “This programme reflects our belief that early engagement is key to inspiring young people to pursue careers in healthcare. Through simulation, clinical observation, and skill-building activities, students can connect theory with practice in a meaningful way.”

Experts and futurists in medical education and artificial intelligence (AI) from around the world gathered in Doha for a conference organised by Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q), which explored how technological breakthroughs are revolutionising healthcare and the way medicine is taught.The 2nd Medical Education Technology Conference brought together thought leaders in medical education, technology and the humanities from institutions in Qatar, the US, the UK and the Netherlands to explore the impact of new advances in AI, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) on healthcare and education.The conference, titled “The Power of Connection: Leveraging Technology for Humanistic Medical Education”, addressed the need to integrate study of the humanities with utilisation of advanced technologies to ensure medical education remains human-centered, ethical and compassionate.The conference, co-directed by professor of clinical medicine and vice-dean for academic and curricular affairs Dr Thurayya Arayssi and Dr Anna Halama, the assistant professor of research in physiology and biophysics, also discussed the opportunities and challenges presented by advances in technology.“New technologies, particularly AI and immersive learning, offer us incredibly powerful teaching tools that have the potential to make medical education radically more effective,” Dr Arayssi said. “However, it is incumbent upon us to ensure that these disruptive technologies are deployed in ways which enable medical education programmes to continue to cultivate empathy, compassion and creativity in future physicians.”The conference featured a series of presentations by expert speakers, Q&A panel discussions, and multiple opportunities for attendees to gain hands-on interactive experiences with technologies such as immersive content creation and VR simulations.Presentations discussed the impact of AI on the cognitive development of students and physicians, the emotional and psychological effects of immersive technologies used for medical simulation-based teaching, and the potential benefits of “gamification” teaching methods.The expert speakers at the conference were drawn from elite international medical and educational institutions, including Weill Cornell Medicine in New York; Cornell University in Ithaca, New York; the University of Cambridge, UK; Kenyon College, Ohio; UCI School of Medicine, California; Southern Illinois University School of Medicine; Amsterdam University Medical Centre; and Princeton University, New Jersey.The event drew participants from all over the world, with healthcare professionals, educators and students in attendance from Qatar, the wider Mena (Middle East and North Africa) region, the US, Europe, India and elsewhere.“This excellent event underlined that the judicious integration of AI and technological advances into medical education has the potential to enhance the acquisition of skills, knowledge and professionalism, which can all help improve patient care,” said WCM-Q dean Dr Javaid Sheikh. “At WCM-Q, we believe in embracing innovation to improve healthcare education, while also working hard to maintain the humanistic values of compassion, care, and empathy that form the core principles of responsible physicianship.”

Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar’s 3rd Qatar Proteomics Conference brought together world-renowned academic scientists, researchers and scholars for a dynamic exchange of the latest findings, technologies and innovations in proteomics and bioinformatics.This year’s conference featured engaging sessions, focused on groundbreaking technologies and the critical health challenges of our time, including diabetes, obesity, cancer, infectious diseases, and more.Proteomics is the comprehensive study of proteins, focusing on their structure, function, and interactions within an organism. Key topics included mass spectrometry-based technologies, affinity-based platforms, and their applications to investigation of complex health conditions. Additional sessions explored the transformative role of proteomics in population health, showcased insights from the Human Proteome Organisation and highlighted regional developments shaping the field of proteomics in the Gulf region.Leading national, regional and international scientists appeared as expert speakers at the conference, sharing their latest findings and experiences in proteomics and highlighting new developments in the field. The conference was co-ordinated by WCM-Q’s Dr Frank Schmidt, director of the proteomics core and associate professor of biochemistry and biophysics; and Dr Karsten Suhre, professor of physiology and biophysics, assistant dean for intercampus research partnerships, and director of the bioinformatics core, along with members of their team, including instrumentation supervisor Dr Sunkyu Choi, and laboratory supervisor Muna al-Noubi. Dr Schmidt and Dr Suhre were both among the expert speakers at the conference, as was Dr Khaled Machaca, WCM-Q professor of systems & computational biomedicine and vice dean for research, innovation and commercialisation.Dr Schmidt said: “We were very pleased to welcome so many world-class proteomics researchers to Qatar to share their expertise, discuss the latest developments in the field, and explore future collaborative projects. The potential for combining proteomics with other -omics technologies to increase our understanding of complex diseases is vast, and this can pave the way for improved diagnostic techniques and more effective treatment strategies.”The conference also featured poster presentations and networking opportunities, creating a collaborative environment designed to bridge disciplines and accelerate discovery. The Qatar Proteomics Conference has become a landmark regional event at the forefront of global proteomics and cross-omics research, fostering collaboration, innovation and impactful scientific exchange.Dr Suhre said: “We are very happy that the conference has helped to build upon Qatar’s leading role in proteomics research, drawing attention to the country’s growing position as a regional and global hub for very high-quality science in this rapidly developing field. Bringing world-class experts in proteomics together here in Qatar to share their experiences is a very effective way to foster collaboration and drive advances in discovery.”

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in co-operation with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC), represented by the Radiation Control Department, announced the accreditation of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) as an international collaborative centre, the "Anchor Center," in radiation medicine.This achievement is the result of close and ongoing cooperation between the MoECC, represented by the Radiation Control Department, and HMC, as part of joint efforts to develop peaceful applications of nuclear technology in healthcare, diagnosis, and treatment, contributing to further scientific and medical progress for the benefit of Qatari society and humanity as a whole.Assistant Undersecretary for Environmental Affairs at the MoECC Yousef al-Hamar emphasised that the accreditation of HMC as an international collaborative centre with the IAEA is a major achievement that adds to Qatar's distinguished record in the areas of international cooperation and the use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. It also reflects the great confidence that the country's institutions enjoy among specialised international organisations.Al-Hamar pointed out that this fruitful cooperation highlights Qatar's commitment to empowering its national cadres and building human capacity in the fields of radiology and radiation control, through research, training, and professional development programmes, in line with the aspirations of Qatar National Vision 2030 towards sustainable human and health development.He indicated that this achievement represents international recognition of the competence of Qatari national cadres and the advanced infrastructure the country possesses in the field of radiation and medical applications. It also reflects Qatar's unwavering commitment to the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and its contribution to enhancing the health sector's capabilities in diagnosing and treating cancer according to the latest international standards.This accreditation is a significant national achievement that enhances Qatar's position in the fields of nuclear medicine and cancer treatment, as part of the "Rays of Hope" initiative launched by the IAEA to provide radiotherapy to cancer patients, particularly in developing countries. (QNA)###OPT TRIMThis achievement comes within the framework of the practical arrangements signed between the Ministry of Public Health and IAEA in November 2023, during the visit of the IAEA's deputy director general and head of the department of technical cooperation Hua Liu to Doha, which will contribute to strengthening the advanced healthcare system in the country.This event embodies Qatar's commitment to supporting international efforts to combat cancer and affirms its active role in providing specialised medical expertise and services at the regional and global levels.This also reflects the close cooperation between the MoECC, represented by the Radiation Control Department — as the national point of contact with the IAEA and relevant state institutions — in supporting the achievement of sustainable development goals and developing national capabilities in the fields of radiation medicine and peaceful nuclear technology, thus consolidating Qatar's position in supporting international initiatives aimed at employing nuclear technologies to serve humanity. (QNA)

Sidra Medicine, a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Qatari Business Women’s Association (QBWA) to promote collaboration in areas that support women’s advancement, leadership, and health.Through this partnership, both organisations will share best practices, exchange expertise, and collaborate to create opportunities that empower women in business, healthcare, and the broader community.The MoU was signed by Dr Iyabo Tinubu-Karch, CEO of Sidra Medicine, and Aisha Hussein Alfardan, vice-chair of QBWA, in the presence of QBWA members and Sidra Medicine’s leadership.Tinubu-Karch said: “We firmly believe that as a healthcare entity that caters to women’s health, our commitment should extend beyond clinical care. This strategic partnership with QBWA reflects our holistic approach to women’s wellbeing and empowerment to become leaders, innovators, and changemakers across all sectors of society.”QBWA is an independent non-profit entity working under the umbrella of the Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA). QBWA’s mission is to provide a platform to empower business and professional women and to unlock the potential of future generations in support of the Qatar National Vision 2030.Alfardan said: “We are proud to partner with Sidra Medicine as a Healthcare Partner, whose dedication to women’s health and wellness aligns with our mission to empower women professionally and socially. Together, we aim to inspire new collaborations that strengthen Qatar’s ecosystem for women’s advancement.”Following the MoU ceremony, the QBWA delegation also attended a tour of several clinics and wards related to women’s services. For more details about Sidra Medicine’s women’s services, visit https://www.sidra.org/services/womens-services

Aspetar on Saturday concluded its 2025 World Conference on Sports Medicine with a successful closing ceremony at the Aspire Dome. The event attracted over 1,000 participants globally and featured discussions on the latest innovations and trends shaping the future of sports medicine.Khalid Ali al-Mawlawi, Acting Director General of Aspetar, announced the dates for the hospital’s upcoming major scientific gatherings, including the Sports Rehabilitation Conference in 2026 and the second edition of the Aspetar World Conference on Sports Medicine in 2027, which will coincide with Aspetar’s 20th anniversary celebration. Al-Mawlawi encouraged professionals worldwide to prepare and participate in these future events, reaffirming Aspetar’s commitment to advancing sports medicine globally.Conference Chairman Dr. Abdulaziz Jaham al-Kuwari, in his closing remarks, emphasized the importance of fostering international collaboration and continuous innovation in sports medicine to enhance athlete health and performance. He highlighted the conference as a unique platform for exchanging scientific expertise and advancing innovative medical and technological solutions for injury prevention and athlete safety.The organizing committee expressed its gratitude to all participants and attendees, reaffirming Aspetar’s ongoing leadership and dedication to advancing sports medicine worldwide.The scientific program of the last day of the conference featured distinguished speakers and session leaders. Dr. Celeste Geertsema addressed medical challenges in extreme environments and best practices for athlete safety. Professor Dave Collins from the United Kingdom explored psychological aspects of athlete rehabilitation, emphasizing innovative mental strategies for successful returns to competition. Dr. Alan Getgood, Chief of Surgery at Aspetar, provided a comprehensive review of anterior cruciate ligament surgical advancements. Dr. Rodney Whiteley focused on training load balance and optimal workload management. Professor Stuart Phillips from Canada delivered evidence-based strategies for athlete recovery and safe return to play.Sessions led by Dr. Mohammeed Al Saey, Director of Sports Dentistry at Aspetar, examined oral health and its impact on athletic performance. Dr. Enda King, Head of Elite Athlete Performance Development, explored tendon and muscle injury management, rehabilitation for hamstring injuries, and return-to-running protocols. Dr. Juan Manuel Alonso, Aspetar sports medicine physician, chaired sessions on team travel management and infection prevention.The conference also highlighted contributions from Sheikha Abdullah, Aspetar Nutrition Specialist, who co-led sessions with Professor Stuart Phillips on advanced sports nutrition trends. Dr. Cristiano Eirale, Chief of Sports Medicine, and Dr. Milos Bojovic presented the latest in regenerative therapies including stem cell and biological treatments. Other notable experts included Mahmoud Ali Mohamed (sports nursing), Dr. Olaf Schumacher (injury risk management). The conference dedicated special programs to youth athletes and highlighted national Qatari initiatives supporting female athlete development and participation.In addition to the sessions, the closing ceremony featured distribution of awards for outstanding scientific presentations and recognition of major sponsors and partners, notably Hamad Medical Corporation, New Balance, Qatar Datamation, and Al Ameen Medical.Aspetar concluded the event by reaffirming its unwavering commitment to innovation, excellence, and international collaboration across sports medicine disciplines, solidifying its position as a global center of excellence in sports medicine and scientific research.

The annual Healing Hands essay competition of Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) has recognised four Qatari high school students for their outstanding 800-word essays on the social consequences of obesity.The winners were Almayasa Waleed Alkhal (Qatar Academy High School), Shamma Mubarak al-Nuaimi (Gulf English School), Fatima Mohammed A M al-Rashid (American School of Doha), and Amna Khalid al-Hajri (Swiss International School in Qatar).The programme is designed to inspire young nationals to pursue careers in medicine and biomedical science. Many previous winners of the Healing Hands contest have gone on to join WCM-Q as students.Each of the four winners received the WCM-Q Doctors of the Future Scholarship, which offers an opportunity to spend a week gaining hands-on research experience in one of the college’s state-of-the-art core laboratories. Two of the winners completed their placements at the Proteomics Lab under the supervision of Prof. Dr Frank Schmidt, professor of biochemistry and director of the proteomics core at WCM-Q.An awards ceremony was recently held at WCM-Q, where each of the four winners was presented with a certificate and a prize. A further eight students received honourable mention certificates in recognition of the high quality of their essays, and 13 students received participation certificates.The essays of the four winners and those who received honourable mentions were noted for the originality of their ideas, their command of written English, the soundness of their supporting arguments, and the coherent structure of their essays. The judges also acknowledged the high level of the participants’ essays, noting the generally high standard of all of the entries this year.Noha Saleh, director of premedical administration, student outreach and educational development, said: “We are confident that this experience will inspire these students to consider a future in medicine."Dr Rachid Bendriss, professor of English as a second language, assistant professor of education in medicine, and associate dean for foundation, student outreach and educational development programmes, said: “We were extremely impressed by this year’s essays, which included such a sophisticated level of innovative and thought-provoking arguments and ideas."

Scientists' work relates to 'how we keep immune system under control'Work spurred development of treatments in areas such as cancer, autoimmune diseaseMore than 200 trials on humans involving regulatory T cells under wayFirst award in 2025 Nobel Prizes, Physics next on TuesdayAmerican scientists Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi from Japan won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine on Monday for work shedding light on how the immune system spares healthy cells, creating openings for possible new autoimmune disease and cancer treatments.Their discoveries relate to peripheral immune tolerance, or "how we keep our immune system under control so we can fight all imaginable microbes and still avoid autoimmune disease", said Marie Wahren-Herlenius, a rheumatology professor at Sweden's Karolinska Institute, the awarding body.The institute said all three laureates brought to the fore so-called regulatory T cells, a class of white blood cells that act as the immune system's security guards that keep immune cells from attacking our own body.Brunkow, who found out she had won after being woken by her dog barking at a news photographer on the front porch of her Seattle home, said she, Ramsdell and their colleagues had isolated a gene called FOXP3 that could be used as a marker for the cells."They're rare, but powerful, and they're critical for sort of dampening an immune response," she said in an interview, describing the cells as a braking system that prevents the body's immune system from tipping over into attacking itself.Sakaguchi expressed surprise at a press conference in Osaka, western Japan, because he felt any major recognition would have depended on more development advances."I used to think that some sort of reward may be forthcoming if what we have been doing will advance a little further and it will become more beneficial to people in clinical settings," he said in a calm voice, cracking a smile now and then.The press conference was interrupted for Sakaguchi to take a congratulatory phone call from Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who asked him how effective immunotherapy could be for cancer treatment in the future."I believe the time will come when cancer is no longer a scary disease, but a curable one," said Sakaguchi.The winners of the award are selected by the Nobel Assembly of the Karolinska Institute, a leading medical university, and receive a prize sum of 11 million Swedish crowns ($1.2 million), as well as a gold medal presented by Sweden's king.Brunkow is senior programme manager at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, while Ramsdell is scientific adviser at Sonoma Biotherapeutics in San Francisco. Sakaguchi is a professor at Osaka University.Jeffrey Bluestone, a decades-long friend of Ramsdell and a co-founder with him of Sonoma Biotherapeutics, told Reuters that his associate's extraordinary contribution was finding the FOXP3 gene, initially in mice, that controlled the development of regulatory T cells. They described their findings in a paper in 2001."Those cells were the master regulators of the tolerance of the immune system," said Bluestone.Ramsdell could not be reached by Reuters - nor by Brunkow or Bluestone, with Bluestone saying he may be on a hiking trip in an area without cell phone reception.After announcing the winners, the Karolinska Institute's Thomas Perlmann said specific therapies had yet to win market clearance but more than 200 trials on humans involving regulatory T cells were ongoing.Among companies in the early race, Ramsdell's Sonoma Biotherapeutics is partly funded and supported by US drugmaker Regeneron to work on therapies against diseases including inflammatory bowel disease.Also targeting that condition, Quell Therapeutics has partnered with AstraZeneca. Other biotech firms exploring the approach include Bayer's BlueRock.The Nobel Prizes were established through the will of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite and a wealthy businessman.They have been awarded since 1901 for outstanding contributions in science, literature, and peace. The economics prize was added later and is funded by Sweden's central bank.Winners are selected by expert committees from various institutions. All prizes are awarded in Stockholm, except for the Peace Prize, which is presented in Oslo.Past recipients of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine include renowned scientists such as Alexander Fleming, who shared the 1945 award for discovering penicillin. In recent years, the prize has recognized major breakthroughs, including those that enabled the development of COVID-19 vaccines.Last year's medicine prize was awarded to US scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their discovery of microRNA and its key role in how multicellular organisms grow and live.Medicine in accordance with tradition kicks off the annual Nobels. The physics award is next, on Tuesday.The awards culminate in ceremonies attended by the royal families of Sweden and Norway, followed by lavish banquets held on December 10 - the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), the Primary Health Care Corp (PHCC) has launched the Family Medicine Certificate Programme, which aims to prepare a new generation of general practitioners specialising in family medicine, qualified to provide comprehensive community healthcare in any public or private healthcare facility in Qatar.The programme launched on September 1, welcoming its first cohort of 15 medical school graduates, children of residents. It will continue for one full-time year.The programme focuses on building a solid scientific and practical foundation through intensive clinical training, evidence-based practice, and multidisciplinary collaboration across health centers.Executive Director of the Clinical Affairs Directorate at PHCC Dr. Hanan al-Mujalli said the new programme reflects Qatar's strategic direction toward strengthening primary care, a long-term investment in community health.She pointed out that graduates of this programme will contribute to early diagnosis and prevention of diseases, thus promoting health in the community.

As part of the efforts made by the Qatar government and humanitarian organisations to support the resilience of the people, institutions, and vital sectors of Syria, a high-level delegation from Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) arrived at Damascus International Airport Sunday. The delegation was headed by QRCS president Yousef bin Ali al-Khater, secretary-general Faisal Mohamed al-Emadi, assistant secretary-general for Relief and International Development Mohamed Bader al-Sada, and assistant secretary-general for Communication and Resource Development Mohamed Ahmed al-Beshri. They were received by Syria's Minister of Health Dr Musaab Nazzal al-Ali, Qatar embassy in Syria charge d'affaires Khalifa Abdullah al-Mahmoud, Syrian Arab Red Crescent Society (SARCS) president Dr Mohamed Hazem Bakleh, Damascus Health Directorate director Dr Wael Dagmash, representative of Syria’s ministry of foreign affairs and staff of the QRCS’s representation office in Türkiye. The purpose of the humanitarian visit was to deliver a new batch of aid from Qatar under the “Take Heart Syria” initiative, containing medical equipment and supplies donated by Sidra Medicine, Al-Tafa’ol Trading Company, United International Trading Company, and Doha Health Care Group, in co-ordination with the QRCS, SARCS, and Syria’s ministry of health. The delegation from Qatar arrived at Damascus International Airport aboard a Qatar Amiri Air Force aircraft, carrying 12 tonnes of critical and sophisticated medical equipment to help Syrian hospitals continue providing quality healthcare services for patients. This airlift was preceded by three land aid convoys. On August 28, a total of 22 aid trucks started to depart from the warehouses of Sidra Medicine and the QRCS in Doha in three batches. The convoys travelled through Saudi Arabia and Jordan, ending in Syria, with 78 tonnes of aid. Thus, the total volume of aid delivered under the initiative totaled 90 tonnes of medical equipment and supplies, at a value of over QR45mn. In his keynote speech during the event, al-Khater, said: "These combined efforts were meant to send a message of solidarity to Syria, helping revitalise the Syrian healthcare sector and strengthening the capacity of its medical institutions to meet the needs of millions of Syrians.” “Over the past years, the QRCS implemented large-scale projects and programmes covering various sectors, including health, shelter, emergency relief, food security, water and sanitation, and livelihoods, with a total value of $160mn,” he added. “More than 13mn people across the country benefited from these interventions”. The QRCS president promised to keep working hard to ensure the delivery of more aid from Qatar to the people of Syria, as well as to intensify support to provide the Syrian health sector with the vital supplies needed for medical facilities. “In the name of the Syrian government and people, I would like to welcome this medical shipment from the State of Qatar, through the QRCS,” said Syrian Health Minister Dr al-Ali. “This humanitarian initiative is not merely equipment and supplies, but rather a message of genuine solidarity, a new lease on life for our patients, and a renewed hope for our medical professionals, who continue to do their job despite the difficulties and challenges.” Al-Mahmoud described the aid as a practical demonstration of Qatar’s unwavering commitment to supporting the Syrian people. The SARCS’s Dr Bakleh said that the generous initiative represents the deep fraternal ties between the peoples of Syria and Qatar and best embodies the spirit of humanitarian solidarity. Al-Emadi revealed that the aid shipment from Qatar contained X-ray, anaesthesia, and dialysis equipment; advanced laboratory testing equipment; vital signs monitoring machines; ventilators; incubators; radiography and laser imaging systems; plasma and biological storage freezers; cardiac and neurological monitoring devices; clinical decision support systems; stretchers; disinfection and protection tools; medical consumables; first-aid kits; and other equipment that covers a wide range of healthcare services, as an essential boost to rehabilitate medical infrastructure in Syria and enable hospitals to resume some of their suspended or limited services.