DOHA: Members of the Central Municipal Council (CMC) have complained about a shortage of medical services in their areas and said it is mostly caused by a shortage of medical and administrative staff.
Residents of these areas have similar complaints.
There are some health centres which do not have even a doctor, the local daily Arabic daily Al Raya said, citing the Jumailia Health Centre.
Councillors have demanded that authorities provide all health centres with medical equipment, including X-ray and kidney dialysis, optical, dental, heart, maternity and neonatal intensive care units. They also demanded redevelopment of all health centres with adequate medical equipment, doctors, nurses and medicines to reduce pressure on Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and the Rayyan Health Centre.
Residents of Jumailia complained that their health centre had a chronic shortage of medical services, and there is not even a male or female general practitioner.
They said the centre had only a dentist and no specialists in ear nose and throat (ENT), opticians, heart specialists and natal services. The centre also lacks kidney dialysis facility and X-ray machines and patients have to travel about 80km to get services from the Shahania Health Centre or go to Doha.
Residents asked authorities to increase medical staff, administrators and medical equipment and build an emergency centre at the Jumailia Health Centre.
They said the centre should be developed to meet the requirements of the increasing number of residents.
According to them, the centre works two shifts — morning and afternoon and closes around 6pm. In case of an emergency, patients are forced to go to Shahania or Doha, they said.
Councillor Mohammed Faisal Al Shahwani from Al Dukhani backed the people of Jumailia and said working hours is the main problem as two shifts are not enough.
The problem of working hours has been exacerbated by a shortage of medical staff, he said, adding priority should be given to increasing the number of staff and making the centre a 24-hour facility.
He said he knew some people who have shifted to Doha because of the absence of medical services in outside areas.
Councillor Ahmed Al Shaebi from Umm Salal said that due to urbanisation and increasing population in Umm Salal, the health centre there is unable to cope with the increasing demand for services. He said the centre is also facing a shortage of staff, mostly specialists in ENT, paediatricians, heart specialists, dentists and gynaecologists.
He said the centre also lacks vital medical equipment such as X-ray and kidney dialysis.
According to him, the centre is small and they had urged authorities to expand it with at least two more villas in the neighbourhood but had received no response yet.
Mubarak Farish, Councillor representing Al Gharafa, said primary healthcare in Al Gharafa Health Centre needed more medical and administrative staff as the centre serves a large area, including the neighbouring Al Nasseriya and Umm Salal.
He said the centre has got an emergency department but it is not working to full capacity. The centre neither has clear entrance and exit points not a signpost, he added.
THE PENINSULA
