DOHA: Several members of the Central Municipal Council have expressed surprise and disappointment over the announcement made by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) on Sunday that hospital beds in the country will be doubled in 15 years.
HMC said that by 2030 hospital beds will increase from the existing 2,100 to 4,200. The civic council members, however, believe that it is a very small number compared to the burgeoning population in the country and HMC’s decision was not realistic.
“HMC’s assessment ignored the population growth taking place every year and the huge infrastructure projects as well as the World Cup and tourism projects. All these require more number of workers. At least 10,000 hospital beds are required until 2030 and what has been announced is very small compared to the population growth,” CMC member Hamad Al Kubaisi told a local Arabic daily.
He urged the health authorities to do a proper assessment and review the decision. “The announcement is disappointing and it does not meet the aspirations of Qatar and the Qatar National Vision 2030,” he added.
Mohammed Zafir Al Hajri, representing the Al Shahaniya constituency said that the HMC announcement came as a shock “at a time the population is growing fast and all the hospital corridors are filled with visitors”.
“Patients are forced to wait for two to three months for surgeries due to lack of beds. What HMC has announced now must happen in the next five years. That was what I was expecting,” said Al Hajri.
“They must reconsider the plan and the number of beds should be raised to 15,000 by 2030,” he added.
Airing similar sentiments, Hamad Lahdan Al Mohannadi said that people are already suffering, with a current population of 2.3 million.
“ There is a severe shortage of (hospital beds). This is the main complaint of the people because they are waiting for a long time for surgeries. The numbers (announced now) are good for the coming five years. If the population continues to increases by the current ratio, the country will need more than 15,000 hospital beds by 2030,” he said.
Mohd Saleh Al Khayarin, CMC member representing the Al Nasiriyah constituency said people have been continuously asking for expansion of the existing hospitals. “ The number of hospital beds must be doubled now not later. How could they come out with such disappointing figures? This data may be based on old information. We may need 10,000 to 15000 hospital beds only for emergency cases during the World Cup. They have to make a new assessment in collaboration with the authorities concerned,” said Al Khayarin.
The Peninsula
