(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Qatar will have 1,040 new hospital beds by next year, according to the annual report released by the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) yesterday.
A further 2,148 new beds will be added between 2017 and 2022.
The report details the actions that SCH and its partners are taking to reform the healthcare system and its efforts to meet 405 published national reform targets. It said that over 38mn free key health services were provided to the public last year.
The reforms target reduced reliance on the hospital sector through more primary and community-based care and increased reliance on the private sector.
Launching the report, HE the Public Health Minister Abdulla bin Khalid al-Qahtani said: "We began this publication so that we could methodically and publicly take stock of our progress in the health sector."
The year 2014 had seen an unprecedented level of activity from the SCH and its four public partners, the Primary Health Care Corporation, the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), the Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners and the National Health Insurance Company.
In 2014, they opened seven new and refurbished facilities and advanced the construction of 25 health centres, 11 hospitals, and 82 other new and refurbished facilities for opening between 2015 and 2022.
"By next year alone, SCH and its partners will add 1,040 new hospital beds. The SCH has approved the opening of a further 2,148 new HMC beds between 2017 and 2022," the report said.
"Bringing the country's 2022 planned total to 5,578 hospital beds, this is well ahead of the 5,686 beds required by 2033 as projected in the Qatar Healthcare Facilities Master Plan 2013-2033, launched by SCH on 1 July 2014."
The plan presents the country's long-term healthcare demand and supply plans, based on official population projections, the Qatar National Master Plan, and international best practice.
Since the plan's publication, the SCH has already received and approved additional facility and bed proposals by the private sector. In 2014, the SCH licensed 219 private sector facilities, the highest number yet, and added 168 private providers to the national health insurance network.
Among the highlights of the 2014 report are: over 38mn free key health services provided to the public; region's first patient-centred long-term care facility opened; 100% of Qatari nationals covered by Seha, the new national health insurance scheme; a new colorectal cancer screening programme launched; a new community mental health service hub started; achievement of up to 94% satisfaction with public hospital care; achievement of up to 99% satisfaction with public primary care; world's first 48-hour cancer referral target on track; ambulance response rates targets met for the second consecutive year and E-Jaza national sick leave system launched.
An independent study over the same period and published on April 3 by 24/7 Wall St, an online financial news and opinion agency, ranked Qatar as the world's healthiest country based on 21 system and health indicators.
The SCH and its partners intend to improve these results. "They will continue expanding and remodelling provision. The public can play a key role in meeting our healthcare ambition through improved health behaviour which SCH is supporting through the launch of Qatar's largest national health promotion campaign.
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