DOHA: Several citizens have expressed surprise and disappointment over what they believe a failure of the authorities to improve the health care sector in the country to the required standards, despite the massive budgetary allocations in this sector.
The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, in his speech at the Advisory Council on Tuesday said that the 2013 budget had increased allocations for health to 114 per cent over the next three years.
Talking to a local Arabic daily, a number of citizens wondered why such huge government expenditure on health, which amounts to billions of riyals does not result in better health care facilities and services.
Saad Mohammed Al Hamari, one of the respondents, said many citizens were surprised to read about a recent survey released by the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) which said that 90 percent of the patients were stratified with its services.
“Jokes were circulating about this survey on social networking sites and many people posted caricatures,” Hammari was quoted as saying by the daily.
The foreign company that conducted the survey may not be aware of the long queues at the hospitals, crowding at the emergency department and the long wait for operations, he added.
He felt that the officials were indifferent to repeated complaints from citizens about the problems in the health sector, because they themselves do not experience it.
The media campaigns going on about improvements in the health sector do not reflect the reality on the ground, he said, asking the authorities to be “honest and transparent” and stop “closed-door policies”.
A recent decision of the HMC to cut the number of doctors at the Emergency Department has also surprised many, said Hamari.
Another citizen wondered why there is a huge gap between the state expenditure on health and the services provided to the public. “Where all the money goes,” he asked.
It was pointed out that the lack of confidence in public hospitals is forcing many citizens to seek treatment abroad. A respondent proposed to film all the surgical procedures at hospitals as a proof while investigating complaints about medical errors.
Another citizen observed that doctors are prone to commit mistakes because they are working under tremendous pressure, due to the crowding at health care facilities and shortage of physicians.
Shortage of specialists and certain specialities have also been cited as major issues hindering the development of a world class health care system in the country.
Some respondents criticised the delay in opening Wakra Hospital saying the few units that have become functional are providing very limited services and many patients are still being referred to the Hamad General Hospital.
The Peninsula
