Press Review of the week

September 12th 2011

Since the first Qatar international conference on primary health care, entitled “The Foundation of Health and Well-being”, was held from 1 to 4 November 2008 in Doha, Primary Healthcare in GCC’s public policies are a regional relevant issue. According to The Peninsula, an independent body, the Primary Healthcare Institution, has been launched last June 2011 by Qatar. Its crucial role consists in boosting Primary Care with an autonomous status and a special budget to implement strategic plans.

Chronic diseases accounted for 49 percent of classified deaths in 2008 and Primary Care policies are widely important to address them (i.e. diabetes and obesity prevalences are the highest in the world). “Seven Primary Health Centers (PHC) in the country will have all services to combat chronic diseases” with internal transfer between specializations and strong PHC staff trainings, said The Peninsula. At the end of this program to enhance quality and performance, in 3 years, the aim is to get international accreditation for all PHC (see our previous post in French).

The Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA) is extending computerization and e-health program with an electronic linkage between ID card registration and visa procedures in order to improve efficiency of Preventive Medicine centers said Emirates 24/7. Awareness and prevention are essential to fight this new plague.