Qatar’s Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have launched a Rehabilitation Data System, positioning Qatar among the global pioneers in this initiative.
Signed on Sunday with the support of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), this agreement enhances Qatar’s health sector by enabling personalized rehabilitation services tailored to individual needs.
HMC described the agreement as “a landmark development” and “a major step forward” for the local health sector. Dr. Hanadi Al Hamad, Deputy Chief of Rehabilitation at HMC, stated, “This initiative aligns with Qatar’s National Health Strategy to provide high-quality, patient-centered care.” She emphasized the importance of advanced health information systems in meeting international standards and addressing the specific needs of the population.
Al Hamad, who led the initiative, noted that it ensures every patient receives optimal rehabilitation care based on the latest evidence and data. Dr. Wouter De Groote, a technical adviser at WHO, agreed, stating that the new system will transform rehabilitation care planning. “It’s about building a system that is proactive, predictive, and patient-centered,” he explained.
The launch of this system coincides with significant changes in Qatar’s healthcare landscape, including the upcoming National Health Strategy 2024-2030. During the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva in May, Qatar’s Minister of Public Health, Dr. Hanan Al Kuwari, outlined the strategy’s aim to address key challenges facing the health system.
Qatar’s healthcare system has been ranked among the top 20 globally in Numbeo’s 2024 indexes for the fourth consecutive year, achieving first place in the Arab world and 18th worldwide in the 2022 Health Care Index. Last year, five Qatari hospitals were listed among the top 250 academic medical centers globally, with four HMC facilities—Rumailah Hospital, Hamad General Hospital, the National Center for Cancer Care and Research, and the Heart Hospital—making the cut. The fifth institution, Sidra Medicine, is part of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development.
In recognition of its support for WHO initiatives, Qatar was elected president of the WHO Executive Board on May 31, 2023. Additionally, Qatar became the first country to have all its municipalities awarded the Healthy City title by the WHO in 2022.
