Qatar's healthcare and research hub gains recognition

Under the banner of "Leading the Change," Qatar staked its claim as a leading regional and international hub for quality bio-medical research, healthcare training and clinical practice at Arab Health last month in Dubai.

Headed by the Ministry of Health, a consortium of the leading medical and educational institutions and organisations from Qatar mounted the biggest pavilion of any Arabian Gulf country at the show, which is the region's biggest gathering of medical professionals.

Visitors to the Qatar pavilion learned of the $7.9bn endowment from the Emir His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani behind Qatar Foundation's Sidra Medical and Research Center due to open in late 2011. Sidra will form a U.S style academic medical center of teaching hospital with the teaching college of Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar next door on one site.

Details of groundbreaking developments and initiatives in Qatar's industry-leading healthcare strategy were also highlighted on the pavilion, including a bio-medical research programme at the frontiers of science and a major regional breakthrough in robotic surgery.

Taking part on the stand to explain their contribution to Qatar's "Leading the Change" strategy were: Hamad Medical Corporation - which delivers healthcare in Qatar through five hospitals and clinics throughout the country; Aspetar - Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital - the region's first of its kind; Qatar University - the country's first and the region's latest College of Pharmacy; University of Calgary Qatar - inspiring the next generation of nurses; College of the North Atlantic Qatar - with a range of specialist training in a variety of health professions; Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar - the first US University to offers medical doctorate degrees overseas; Qatar Science and Technology Park - home to companies from around the world; and the Qatar Diabetes Association.

Mr. Mohamed Al Noimi, Executive Director of Marketing & Public Relations for Hamad Medical Corporation said,

"We were particularly impressed by the quality of visitors to the Qatar Pavilion. At least 20% of the enquiries we received were significant and may well result in future collaboration."

The Qatar stand demonstrated the scope of the development of healthcare in the country said Michael Vertigans, Director of Public Affairs at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar.

"We received many enquiries from professionals in the sector," he added. "Visitors were particularly keen to understand the quality of education, the strategy behind the bio-medical research programme and how the country is leading the change in the sector over the next decade through its investment in people and services.

"They were able to witness the full extent of healthcare change in the country through the organisations joining forces and resources to communicate how Qatar has identified education and healthcare as two key pillars of its knowledge based economy."