Structure of the Healthcare

The State of Qatar has emerged as one of the global leaders for healthcare. This is thanks to an adequate pipeline of public investment, modern facilities, and the growing innovation surrounding medical technology.

The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) is responsible for formulating the overall policy and strategy in healthcare, in accordance with Qatar National Vision 2030. This aims to create a state-of-the-art modern healthcare system rooted in international standards of research and education programs, top-tier practitioners, and facilities.

The non profit Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), and the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), are responsible for providing public health care in the State of Qatar. Primary Healthcare is provided through Primary Health Care Corporation, Preventive Health Care Department, and Medical Commission. HMC attends to inpatient care and is provided to all nationals free of charge by the public sector. Expatriates are provided with free preventive and emergency care.

Examples of public hospitals operating in the State of Qatar include, Hamad Medical Corporation, Hamad General Hospital, Rumailah Hospital, The Women's Hospital, and Al Amal Oncology Hospital. Private hospitals include Al Ahli Hospital, Al Emadi Hospital, American Hospital Doha, and Doha Clinic Hospital.

Financing Healthcare

Qatar offers free universal health coverage (UHC) to all its citizens and residents at public health facilities, and charges only nominal fees for medication. Plans are in place to re-introduce a national health insurance system, which will require all visitors to hold their own medical insurance and reduce the cost to the government. Seha, the previous public national health insurance system that was expected to cover all Qatari nationals, tourists, and expatriates, was discontinued in 2015 following growing expenses and criticism of how resources were managed.

Hence, healthcare in Qatar is financed by different arms including the Central Ministry of Finance through the budget allocated by the Ministry of Public Health, Provincial Public Firms Funds, social security, private insurance, out-of-pocket payments, non-profit organization, private firms and corporations, and external donors.

Investment Opportunities

Lucrative opportunities to invest in the State of Qatar’s healthcare space include but are not limited to:

• Research and Development Initiatives for communicable and non-communicable diseases

• Health Technology to assist in consultation, screening, and diagnosis

• Medical Insurance

• Specialized and Rehabilitation Centers

Start Ups & Technology

Some of the health tech startups include Meddy, Droobi Health, Tabeebak, DietHub, Q Clinics, Al Sulaiman Health, Medi Health Solutions, Vital Health Technologies, Specialized Medical Solutions W.L.L., and Medtech.

Prominent technology leveraged by these startups include Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Additive Manufacturing (3D Technology), Smart Wearables, Machine Learning, and Augmented/Virtual Reality.

Challenges

The State of Qatar faces the following challenges in achieving a modern healthcare system:

• The growing demand of pharmaceuticals linked with the low number of local pharmaceutical manufacturers and the regional blockade against Qatar, has led the state to import pharmaceuticals from elsewhere at an expensive cost

• The emergence of communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among the population stemming from lifestyles, behavior and disparities

• The absence of the public national health insurance program limits access of quality healthcare to the less fortunate

• The increased demand of medical services due to the state’s growing population

Solutions

There are reforms that the State of Qatar has undertaken in alignment with Qatar National Vision 2030 to combat and reduce challenges:

• The government is pushing for more local manufacturers to compliment the current Qatar Pharma in order to have adequate supply of pharmaceuticals in response to the growing demand.

• Nation-wide campaigns should be emphasized to mobilize the population to maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to put a halt on NCDs.

• The MoPH has announced the draft law that will be a base for a new health insurance system. This will take pressure off the Qatari government to bear the cost of healthcare.

• The ongoing construction of new facilities and medical centers is a partial solution for the growing need of medical services.