tag

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.

In a significant step to further strengthen Qatar’s position in healthcare innovation, the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (DLMP) at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has officially launched Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) testing. This groundbreaking initiative represents a major advance in genetic diagnostics, enabling patients in Qatar to receive faster, more accurate diagnoses and highly personalised treatment plans tailored to each individual’s genetic profile. This new testing technology will benefit patients with genetic disorders, both adults and children, as well as those with certain types of cancer. Previously, blood samples for these patients had to be sent abroad for testing, a process that often required significant time before results could be obtained. WES is a cutting-edge genetic test that focuses on the exome, the regions of DNA responsible for coding proteins. Since most disease-causing mutations are found in these regions, WES provides powerful insights into unexplained illnesses, inherited conditions, and genetic risks affecting families. To conduct the test, a blood sample is collected, DNA is extracted, and advanced sequencing technology is used to analyse the exome. Sophisticated computer software then interprets the data, highlighting possible genetic causes of disease. Chair of DLMP at HMC, Dr Einas Abdulaziz al-Kuwari, stated: "This initiative underscores our commitment to integrating genomic medicine into patient care. By harnessing advanced sequencing technologies, we aim to provide more precise and timely diagnoses." She added: "This will transform the management of genetic conditions in Qatar and empower physicians to deliver truly personalised care tailored to each patient’s unique genetic profile." "The launch of WES at HMC fulfils a long-held vision to bring genomic medicine into routine clinical care in Qatar. We are no longer dependent on external laboratories; today we can deliver advanced diagnostics right here in-house," she added. Al-Kuwari stressed: "This achievement is not only scientific but a message of hope for families living with genetic conditions. It symbolises Qatar’s determination to stand at the forefront of precision medicine, building a healthcare system that is both world-class and compassionate." "And this is only the beginning. We will continue to advance until every patient in Qatar has access to the most innovative care possible,” added al-Kuwari. Under the leadership of Dr Moza Khalifa al-Kuwari, and supported by a highly skilled team of national specialised laboratory staff, the Molecular Genetics Laboratory within DLMP’s Diagnostic Genomic Division (DGD) spearheads the introduction of WES testing. The process has been validated according to international standards, including those of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) and the College of American Pathologists (CAP). To ensure seamless integration, DLMP has invested in robust data infrastructure, including secure high-capacity servers, advanced computing power, and state-of-the-art cybersecurity, to safeguard sensitive information and enable rapid data analysis. The introduction of this advanced service will also help reduce the need to send patient samples abroad for genetic testing. Established in 2001, the Molecular Genetics Laboratory is among the region’s most advanced facilities, performing approximately 30,000 genetic tests annually and supporting national screening programmes, including premarital and newborn screening. Accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) since 2014, the laboratory continues to uphold the highest international standards. With the introduction of WES, HMC consolidates its leadership in genomic medicine, delivering cutting-edge care for patients while strengthening Qatar’s healthcare infrastructure.

The State of Qatar condemned the Israeli occupation forces' bombing of Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis, which resulted in the deaths of innocent, defenseless civilians, and considered it a new episode in the ongoing series of heinous crimes committed by the occupation forces against the brotherly Palestinian people and a flagrant violation of international law.In a statement on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the occupation forces' targeting of journalists and relief and medical workers requires urgent and decisive international action to provide the necessary protection for civilians and ensure that the perpetrators of these atrocities do not escape punishment.The Ministry also reiterated the urgent need for global solidarity to end the brutal genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, address the catastrophic humanitarian conditions there, and move forward towards achieving a just and sustainable peace in the region, ensuring the establishment of an independent and fully sovereign Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.