Qatar’s Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, and Sheikh Abdulla Bin Saoud Al Thani, Qatar Central Bank Governor and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Sports and Social Activities Support Fund (Daam), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that advances the care of patients in Qatar who no longer need to be in hospital but require long-term, inpatient medical treatment, paving for the establishment of the Daam Specialised Care Centre.
Donations from Daam covers the cost to retrofit and commission the new facility, which has already commenced construction in Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City. The new facility, which will join the existing Enaya Specialised Care Centres of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), is expected to open in late 2019 and will have 67 beds. It will expand the capacity of the current Enaya facilities while also providing more privacy for patients who require long-term medical care outside of the hospital setting.
Speaking during the MoU signing ceremony, Dr Al Kuwari thanked Daam for their donation and applauded the organisation for recognising the importance of investing in the country’s long-term medical care infrastructure.
The focus of our specialised care centres is to provide an advanced care system for patients who are well enough to be discharged from the hospital but still require specialised medical treatment that is often long-term. The aim of these facilities is to create a comforting, home-like environment in the community. A space that provides the best quality patient-centered medical care while supporting patients in regaining or maintaining optimal levels of functioning.’
The first Enaya Specialised Care Centre opened in 2010. Initially called the Skilled Nursing Facility, it was the first of its kind in the region, providing round-the-clock monitoring and treatment from specialist nurses and doctors. Five years later, the facility was expanded to meet the needs of the country’s growing population and in 2015, the Enaya Specialised Care Centres 1 and 2 officially opened. Today, the facilities provide a healing environment with over 150 patient beds. Once opened, the Daam Specialised Care Centre will strengthen the capabilities of these existing facilities. The facilities will be connected via a link bridge, allowing for efficiencies in staffing, equipment, and space.
Daam has been an important partner for healthcare development in the country, previously providing financial support for the expanded, two-story Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) annex at the Women’s Hospital.
Sheikh Abdullah Bin Saoud Al Thani praised the leading role of HMC, stressing that the partnership between Daam and HMC serves the welfare of the people of Qatar.
Funding the Daam Specialised Care Centre is in line with achieving its vision of integrated social development that benefits peoples’ lives on all levels. World-class healthcare is a pillar of Qatar’s National Vision 2030, and also a key feature of the life we at Daam aim at granting to people.
At Daam, we believe that initiatives such as this are at the core of our work as a major contribution and support entity. We have previously supported various projects with HMC and we will continue our partnership for as long as we share mutual goals and objectives, leading to effective and sustained development.’
In recent years, HMC has made major strides towards redefining continuing care in Qatar. In addition to the two existing Enaya Specialised Care Centres, it also operates two community-based facilities in Muaither and a multi-disciplinary Home Healthcare Service which currently cares for over 1,600 patients across Qatar.
For more information about HMC, visit their website at hamad.qa.