The Second National Health Strategy 2018-2022 in Qatar has brought about significant accomplishments that have contributed to the ongoing sustainable development and improvement of healthcare in the country. Despite the challenges posed by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the strategy has successfully achieved over 90 percent of its outcomes across 54 projects. The focus of the strategy has been on prevention, wellness, improving access to care, and delivering services in a more integrated manner. These achievements have played a pivotal role in enhancing the health of the Qatari community and positioning Qatar as a leader in healthcare.
Huda Al Khtheeri, Director of the Strategic Planning, Performance and Innovation Department at the Ministry of Public Health, highlighted the success of the strategy in achieving its objectives despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. She emphasized the importance of the strategy in improving governance, policy frameworks, and introducing fundamental reforms in the healthcare sector. The strategy has also prioritized the improvement and development of services for seven population groups most in need of care, resulting in significant milestones such as a reduction in the prevalence of dental caries among children and an increase in exclusive breastfeeding rates for infants.
Furthermore, the Second National Health Strategy 2018-2022 has led to improvements in mental health services, reductions in emergency department visits due to falls among older individuals, and an increase in the number of organizations with access to occupational health and wellness programs. Qatar has been recognized for its efforts in promoting health at a national level, with all municipalities awarded the title of “Healthy City” by the World Health Organization, Qatar University recognized as a “Healthy University,” and Education City achieving the title of “Healthy Education City.”
The Ministry of Public Health has also made strides in increasing its International Health Regulations (IHR) indicators score, rising from 35 percent in 2018 to 97 percent in 2022. The State of Qatar has made significant progress in the Universal Health Coverage index and has developed the National Framework for Health Education to ensure consistent messaging across all health programs and campaigns. The establishment of the Qatar Healthcare Unified Contact Center (16000) has further enhanced integrated healthcare and promoted a collaborative approach to patient care.
Looking ahead, the vision of the Second National Health Strategy has set the stage for the forthcoming Third National Health Strategy 2024-2030, which is expected to be launched soon as part of Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy 2024-2030 and Qatar National Vision 2030. The focus of the new strategy will be on providing timely care, delivered by the right person, in the most appropriate setting, building on the strong foundation laid by the Second National Health Strategy. Qatar is poised to continue its journey towards achieving excellence in healthcare and improving the well-being of its population.
