Qatar Welcomes Medical Tourists

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Head to Qatar for Health Travel

Medical tourists the world over are being encouraged to consider Qatar as a health travel destination.  The country is working hard to create a niche for itself in the growing health travel industry.  Aware of the dangers of medical tourism that plague the minds of tourists, the Qatari government is gearing up to provide state-of-the-art treatment facilities.  Hamad Medical Corporation’s Chairperson, Dr. Latifa al-Houty, announced recently that,  

“the Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation of all five hospitals of the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) will highlight Qatar’s capacities for medical tourism, a highly profitable industry, so as to serve an increasingly mobile world population.”   

The new JCI accreditation of the Hamad Medical Corporation hospitals means that medical tourists can expect quality health care without the associated dangers of medical tourism at these healthcare facilities.  

Accreditation Lowers Dangers of Medical Tourism

JCI accreditation works as a seal of assurance to patients seeking treatment.  According to JCI Middle East Managing Director, Dr. Derick Pasternak, JCI’s mission is 

“to improve the safety and quality of care in the international community through the provision of education, publication, consultation, evaluation, and accreditation services.”   

Qatar has, in recent years, been thrust onto the international stage with the Doha Asian Games held here in 2006.  Hospital managers and the government of Qatar see the JCI accreditation as a positive step in the growth of the tiny Gulf state.  According to Dr. al-Houty, “the world can expect even greater things from Qatar in the realm of healthcare as the government continues to invest significantly.”  The Qatari government has announced investments of QR3.8bn in the hospitals that come under the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) banner.  Such growth prospects, coupled with a positive attitude from the government and the medical fraternity in the country, can only bode well for Qatar’s future in the health travel sector.