DOHA: Many expatriate workers who don’t have health cards will benefit from the government’s plan to integrate the health card with the Qatari identity card, the Minister of Pubic Health
H E Abdullah bin Khalid Al Qahtani has said.
Speaking at an interactive session on Monday to discuss achievements of the National Health Strategy (NHS) 2011-2016, the Minister said work is progressing on three hospitals and several health centres meant exclusively for expatriate labourers.
In the past, many single workers had been facing difficulties in accessing hospitals and health centres because they didn’t have a health card. There is a new system which will incorporate health card with the ID card, the Qatar News Agency quoted the Minister as saying.
The Supreme Council of Health (SCH) had earlier said that citizens and expatriates will be able to avail of the national health insurance scheme, Seha, through their Qatari ID card. Seha is currently is in its second phase covering all citizens.
The Minister said introduction of the new system will be complimented with opening of several new health care facilities exclusively for expatriate workers.
A new health centre for workers in Mesaimeer is getting ready for opening in November this year, while work is progressing on a workers’ hospital in Industrial Area, that will be attached with a health center for the same segment.
Another health centre for workers is under construction in Dikhreet area near Dukhan which can serve up to 5,000 workers
Two other workers’ hospitals in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed will be handed over by the end of next year and ready for operation by the first quarter of 2016, said the minister.
As part of an expansion plan, hospital beds in Qatar will be increased to 6,600 by 2030 and there is a plan to set up 54 new primary health centres, 11 of which will cater to single workers.
The Peninsula
