Over the past few decades, Qatar’s health care system has made great strides and significant progress. The government understood the importance of having a robust health care system, and each year it continues to make major investments on improving health care facilities, enhancing research, producing top notch healthcare professionals, and so much more.
Qatar understands that in order to fulfill one of its pillars for the Qatar National Vision 2030, the human development pillar, it needs to take care of the health of its population, which is rapidly growing. The National Health Strategy 2018-2022’s goals and current progress is directed mainly by the National Vision. Let’s take at look at 5 important facts regarding this health strategy.
5 Key Components of Qatar’s Latest Health Strategy
1. Fitting the Needs of the Population
During the previous years, Qatar focused mainly on developing infrastructure and growing the capacity of the country to cater to its citizens and residents. But now, its priority lies on knowing the needs of the population, and aligning the already existing capabilities in the health sector to fit those needs.
2. The Strategic Context
The National Health Strategy 2018-2022 falls under the National Development Strategy 2018-2022, which aims for Qatar to have the following key features of a health system:
a. Comprehensive world-class
b. Integrated system
c. Preventive
d. Having a skilled national workforce
e. Having a national health policy
f. Having services that are effective and affordable
g. Conducting high quality research.
The slogan of the National Health Strategy for the year 2018-2022 is “Our Health, Our Future.”
3. Triple Aim
To be really clear, the National Health Strategy 2018-2022 has a triple aim which is highly summarized in brief but impactful words:
a. Better Health
b. Better Care
c. Better Value
4. Priorities
Through the seven population groups we have identified sections of Qatar’s society whose needs must be prioritized. These groups include children, people with multiple chronic diseases, those with special needs, and the elderly#National_Health_Strategy #NHS2018_2022 pic.twitter.com/4uXu5ksFFn
— وزارة الصحة العامة (@MOPHQatar) March 24, 2018
Which sectors in Qatar’s population are the priorities for receiving high quality health care? Well, the National Health Vision 2018-2022 lists seven priorities:
a. Children and adolescents
b. Women having pregnancies
c. Employees
d. Mental health and well being
e. People with multiple chronic conditions
f. People with special needs
g. Ageing individuals
These priorities can be achieved through a model of high quality care and delivering services, enhancing the promotion of health and preventing disease, protecting the health of its citizens and residents, and making sure that the leaders are following an effective system to implement these objectives.
5. Current Challenges Faced by Qatar Health
The need for a strategy arises when you consider the still existing health issues that the government must address. These health concerns include the following:
a. Most mortalities come from chronic diseases, like heart diseases, cancer and diabetes.
b. Many adults are overweight
c. Close to half of all adults still aren’t as physically active as they should be.
d. A huge majority of children have dental caries
e. A significant percentage of mortalities are caused by injuries
f. Many men still smoke.
Through this National Health Strategy, Qatar has identified several priority populations that will be the country’s main focus for at least the next two years. The strategy has been converted into action, and the government, along with health sector stakeholders, have worked tremendously to make Qatar a healthier place to live in.