HE Dr. Hanan Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health, witnessed the opening of the "Together We Make A Difference" seminar organized by the Ministry recently, during which the most prominent initiatives of Qatar's Public Health Strategy 2017-2022 were reviewed.
The seminar was attended by all health sector partners and stakeholders in the implementation of health initiatives in the State of Qatar, including HMC, Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Medical Services in the Ministry of Interior, Qatar Armed Forces and Qatar Petroleum, as well as the private health sector.
Dr. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani, Director of Public Health Department at the Ministry of Public Health, highlighted that strengthening Qatar's governance, laws, regulations, performance management and health indicators is required for successful work within the framework of public health services and functions. "Qatar ranks 13th based on Legatum Prosperity Index (LPI) about the world's best health systems by 2017 and we hope to be among the top ten countries in the world for the next few years," he added.
"Achieving the goals of the National Health Strategy and the objectives of Qatar's public health strategy will lead to a healthier life and enhance well-being for all at different stages of life," Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al Thani said. "Cooperation between the health sector and related stakeholders will be at the highest level to support successful public health activities, ensuring progress towards realizing Qatar National Vision 2030."
The National Health Strategy 2018-2022 covers thoroughly all other health-related strategies in the State of Qatar, including the Qatar Public Health Strategy. The national health strategy includes seven priority population groups and five system-wide areas. Twelve national leaders have also been appointed to serve as specialized committees for the implementation of the National Health Strategy.
Ms. Anna Morten of the National Health Strategy Task Force noted that: In order to achieve the vision and address the health challenges in Qatar, the National Health Strategy aims to design and develop health services that are suitable for patients and their families and contribute to the development of the functioning of the health system by moving from a focus on treating symptoms Pathological to help people maintain good health.
Mr. Hamad Jassim Al-Hammer, manager of Public Relations at (MOPH), reviewed the most important initiatives to involve the community in Qatar's public health strategy and its important role in improving the health of the population. He pointed out that these initiatives seek to achieve three main objectives to deepen understanding of the health needs of society in various categories, promote community participation in the application and sustainability of public health programs and initiatives, and focus on the health knowledge approach to enable community members to better manage their health.
He stressed that efforts are being made to strengthen constructive cooperation with all partners to ensure optimal implementation of the strategy, as well as to ensure that their implementation is consistent with other health strategies, especially the National Health Strategy, with an emphasis on empowering people and educating them about healthy lifestyles and access.
As for the importance of the cooperation of stakeholders in the field of health information and scientific analysis to support decision-making by officials, said Dr. Roberto Bertolini, an adviser at the Office of the Minister of Public Health: "The quality of the data that will be collected is necessary for the development of evidence-based policies, and various activities in the field of public health ".
