The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) in Qatar recently issued Circular No. (24/2025) to update its healthcare practitioner registration and licensing policies. This update, announced on March 26, 2024, aims to streamline processes for medical professionals and bolster the nation’s healthcare workforce. The changes primarily affect Qatari nationals, children of Qatari women, and individuals holding Qatari family residency permits, impacting requirements for professional experience and the Prometric qualifying exam.
The policy adjustments are being implemented across Qatar, affecting both public and private healthcare facilities. According to the MoPH, the revisions are designed to attract and retain qualified medical personnel, aligning with the country’s national healthcare strategy and its preparations for major events like the FIFA World Cup 2030. The circular is effective immediately and applies to all new and renewal applications for healthcare licenses.
Streamlined Registration for Qatari Nationals
A key focus of the updated policy is to ease the path to licensure for Qatari citizens. The ministry has announced exemptions from the professional experience requirement for graduates of both public and private universities within Qatar. This applies to a range of healthcare professions, including general dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, and various allied health specialties.
Physician Requirements
However, the requirements differ slightly for physicians. According to Jawaher Al Ali, Director of Registration at the Department of Healthcare Professions, Qatari physicians graduating from local universities must complete one year of practical experience to qualify for a general practitioner license. This experience can be fulfilled through a traditional internship or a supervised general practitioner license, as permitted by Qatari law.
Interestingly, physicians who directly enter medical residency programs after graduating from a Qatari university are exempt from the mandatory internship year. They will instead be granted a license to practice as resident physicians, allowing them to continue their specialized training. This reflects a commitment to fostering advanced medical expertise within the country.
Benefits for Children of Qatari Women and Family Residency Holders
The updated circular also extends benefits to children of Qatari women and those holding Qatari family residency permits. These groups will receive specific advantages in certain medical specialties, though the exact nature of these benefits hasn’t been fully detailed. The MoPH stated that the changes aim to provide greater clarity and flexibility in meeting licensing requirements for these applicants.
For those with family residency permits, the policy outlines specific experience requirements and, in some cases, allows for the completion of necessary experience under supervision within Qatar’s healthcare institutions. This provision is intended to facilitate the integration of qualified professionals into the workforce while ensuring patient safety and quality of care. The changes to medical licensing are expected to reduce administrative burdens.
The move to simplify healthcare professional licensing comes as Qatar continues to invest heavily in its healthcare infrastructure and expand access to medical services. The country has been actively recruiting international medical talent, but also prioritizing the development of a skilled national workforce. This updated policy is a significant step in achieving that balance.
The Ministry of Public Health has not yet announced a timeline for a comprehensive review of the impact of these changes. Stakeholders will be closely watching the number of new license applications and the time it takes to process them in the coming months. Further clarification on the specific advantages offered to children of Qatari women and family residency holders is also anticipated, as is ongoing evaluation of the Prometric exam requirements for various specialties and nationalities. The long-term effects on the availability of qualified medical staff remain to be seen.
For more information on the updated regulations, please refer to the official Ministry of Public Health website: https://www.moph.gov.qa/
Additional details can be found in the Qatar News Agency report: https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/moph-updates-healthcare-practitioners-registration-and-licensing-policy
