Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, the Minister of Public Health, officially inaugurated the National Obesity Treatment Center of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). The centre sits under the auspices of the Qatar Metabolic Institute (QMI).
Speaking on the significance of the new clinic, Dr Al Kuwari highlighted the important milestone in the fight against obesity in Qatar.
The new National Obesity Center reinforces our commitment as a country to providing effective and compassionate care for the prevention of weight-related diseases as outlined in the National Health Strategy. This is especially important in Qatar, where we are faced with some of the highest levels of metabolic complications resulting from obesity and diabetes.’
Located inside Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City, the National Obesity Treatment Center will deliver holistic, multi-disciplinary care for patients in need of medical management, lifestyle modifications, bariatric and endoscopic procedures. Clinics previously located at other facilities will now operate within the National Obesity Treatment Center to provide a multi-disciplinary service that will facilitate and integrate the care of patients.
Dr Monica Skarulis Young, Director of the National Obesity Treatment Center said that their centralised location will allow their ‘multi-disciplinary’ teams to coordinate care and develop personalised plans for each patient seeking a healthier weight.
Professor Abdul-Badi Abou-Samra, Director of QMI and Chairman of Internal Medicine at HMC, added that the goal of the newly opened centre is to ensure that the programme has a long-term positive effect on a patient’s lifestyle. Each personalised programme includes a component of education about healthier eating and incorporating daily physical activity goals into one’s lifestyle.
The QMI building will also house the HMC Tobacco Control Center and the Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolic Research Unit.
For more information about the National Obesity Treatment Center, visit the HMC website at hamad.qa.