DOHA: The Paediatric Cardiology Section at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has seen 5,075 visits to the outpatient clinic in 2013, according to a senior official.
These included 1,355 patients on initial referral, and the section provided 810 consultations for inpatients, said Dr Reema Yousef Kamal, Chief of Paediatric Cardiology at HMC.
The section is the primary provider of cardiovascular diagnostic and treatment services in Qatar, providing comprehensive services for the growing population.
Dr Kamal was addressing the first Congenital Heart Disease Symposium held to discuss latest advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart disease.
About 250 participants attended the symposium organized by HMC in collaboration with The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) Toronto, Canada.
“The symposium allowed us to discuss the current expertise here and abroad in the management of congenital heart disease, a condition which is on the rise in Qatar,” said Senior Consultant of Paediatric Cardiac Anaesthesia at HMC, Dr Syed Abdul Aziz Syed Zin.
Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub, Paediatric Cardiac Surgeon, Founder and Director of Magdi Yacoub Research Network, Qatar Cardiovascular Research Centre and Chain of Hope Charity, spoke on surgery for transposition of the great arteries, a congenital heart defect where the large vessels that take blood away from the heart to the body are improperly connected, due to abnormal development of the heart during the first eight weeks of pregnancy.
“We provided an excellent overview of progress achieved in Qatar in the treatment of congenital heart conditions. Speakers discussed new developments in the field. This was a great initiative,” he said.
Dr Andrew Redington, Chief of Paediatric Cardiology at SickKids, spoke on the optimal model of care for children and adults with congenital heart disease while HMC consultants spoke on paediatric cardiology, cardiac surgery, cardiac anaesthesia and intensive care to highlight the current management of patients in Qatar.
The Peninsula
