Sidra Medicine, a Member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has announced the launch of a benevolent healthcare grant 'Precision Medicine for All,' coinciding with the Rare Disease Day.
The grant will allow young patients of all backgrounds, particularly those with genetic, rare or hard-to-diagnose conditions, to access cutting-edge precision diagnostics at Sidra Medicine.
Rare Disease Day is an annual observance which falls on the last day of February. It is aimed at raising awareness and generating change for the hundreds of millions of people worldwide living with a rare disease.
CEO of Sidra Medicine Dr Iyabo Tinubu-Karch said, “Through this grant, we are generating a change that will positively impact the lives of hundreds of patients living with rare or complex diseases in Qatar.”
She pointed out that Sidra Medicine plays an important role in implementing a program that is in support of Qatar's pledge to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, one of which is to achieve universal health coverage and enhancing good health and well-being for all (UNSDG Goal 3).
"As one of the few hospitals in the region with the capacity to deliver advanced diagnostics and precision therapies under one roof, Sidra Medicine is committed to widening the access to its Precision Medicine services," she added.
Chief Research Officer at Sidra Medicine Dr Khalid Fakhro said that Sidra Medicine embedded research with philosophy for patient care, adding that it has successfully showcased this for children with rare diseases such as neurological disorders, immune deficiencies, congenital malformations and cancer.
"Oftentimes, there are still many children whose families are unaware of where to go to find out the underlying cause of the disease or who are unable to afford the experimental therapies, and such advanced diagnostics or therapies are not covered by health insurance providers," he said.
"Precision Medicine for All will support funding key patient-related clinical research and personalized interventions, thus reducing the emotional and financial burden for patients in need," he noted, adding that "with the support of benevolent partners, Sidra Medicine hopes this grant will significantly grow over the years to make precision medicine a reality for all rare disease patients and their families in Qatar."
