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Tribune News Network
Geneva
Qatar has continued to provide health services to all residents, including citizens of the blockading countries as Qatar sees health care as a fundamental human right, said Minister of Public Health HE Dr Hanan Mohammed al Kuwari.
Speaking at the 71st session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva on Tuesday, the minister warned countries against using healthcare services as a political tool against people, adding that the unjust blockade imposed on Qatar since June 2017 violates international conventions.
"Although the blockade was suddenly imposed to impact on citizens' food and medicine supplies, our country has worked to overcome this. We seek to provide food and health services to the entire population, including citizens of the embargo countries, based on our belief that health care is a fundamental human right," she said.
She stressed that Qatar, under the wise leadership of the Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, is working on the continuous development of health system for current and future generations.
"In 2008, Qatar launched its national vision, which in essence, emphasises the provision of comprehensive health coverage to the entire population of the country. Our country provides government-supported healthcare services across the country and is available to all citizens and residents. Governmental services ranging from preventive services to primary, secondary and specialist services," she said.
She said,"Qatar has witnessed a significant expansion in the number of health services and facilities in the last few years, while meeting high standards of quality. The health sector has achieved important goals through the implementation of the National Health Strategy 2011-2016. The National Health Strategy 2018-2022, based on the population health approach, has been developed and launched to focus on the triple objective of better health, better care and better value."
The minister said the strategy identified seven priority population groups, selected on the basis of the current population and health needs of the Qatari community, as well as five priorities at the health system level, ranging from promoting integrated care at the health system level to health promotion in all policies, basic healthcare system as defined by the World Health Organization.
She said,"We have identified 19 key results-oriented performance indicators based on internationally agreed standards to monitor the implementation of the strategy and ensure that all the principles of universal health coverage are achieved throughout the system. All these efforts are supported by an evolving information system based on individual records to support priority setting, monitoring and evaluation of progress."
She stressed that, in Qatar's belief in its humanitarian and international role, it provides developmental support to countries in need, including contributing to supporting sustainable development projects such as health and education projects.
