DOHA: The specialised hospital for communicable diseases at the Hamad bin Khalifa Medical City will open by the end of this year, an expert at the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has said.
The 65-bed hospital will give special attention to tuberculosis (TB) cases which is still prevalent in the country in significant numbers, Dr Hussam Saoub, consultant in communicable diseases at HMC told Al Sharq. “HMC will receive the hospital in June and it will start providing services by the end of this year,” said Saoub.
He said, 465 new active TB cases were detected in Qatar in 2014 against 469 cases in 2013. The prevalence however shows a gradual decline compared to the 619 cases recorded in 2009.
The number of latent (inactive) TB cases has reached 257, which were transferred to the departments concerned for preventive treatment not to become active. There is less risk associated with inactive TV since it is not communicable.
New TB cases have been detected during the mandatory health check ups at the Medical Commission or during examinations at different healthcare facilities including HMC hospitals.
Pre-departure medical checks for newly recruited foreign workers in their country of origin have helped reduce the cases, said Saoub.
In 2014 the TB clinics at HMC received 118,500 visitors against 115,000 visitors in 2013 and 136,000 visitors in 2012.
This numbers appear very high given the fact the TB clinics operate from four rooms, with 38 clinics weekly, said Saoub.
Treatment for TB would take six months to a year depending on the nature infection.Communicable diseases are on the rise globally with emergence of new viruses like H1N1, MERS and Ebola.
No Ebola cases have been detected in Qatar until now and MERS remains under control with only 13 cases so far. More than 10,000 employees of the HMC have been vaccinated against seasonal influenza since they are among the most vulnerable segments.
The Peninsula
