Qatar: HMC sees over 3mln outpatient visits in 2024
Doha, Qatar: The Outpatient Department of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) received more than 3 million visits, while its laboratory conducted over 24 million tests, making them the most sought-after services in 2024, according to statistics.
HMC is the main public healthcare provider in Qatar, managing 12 hospitals — nine specialist hospitals and three community hospitals — as well as the Ambulance Service, and Paediatric Emergency Services among others.
Since January 2024, HMC has been releasing monthly statistics from its hospitals and services. According to the data, outpatient services and laboratory tests were the most sought-after services in both the first and second halves of the year. The second half saw an increase in demand for both services.
The Outpatient Department recorded 3,198,989 visits in 2024; it includes 1,770,362 visits between July and December 2024, which is an increase by 24% compared to 1,428,627 visits recorded between January and June 2024.
The Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (DLMP) conducted 24,372,843 tests; among it 11,759,079 tests were conducted in the first half of 2024 and 12,613,764 tests between July and December 2024, which is an increase by 7.27 percent.
The Center for Patient Experience and Staff Engagement (CPESE) at HMC is working to improve the Referral and Booking Management System (RBMS) to enhance the outpatient experience by optimising appointment booking, reducing waiting times, and ensuring easier access to care. Meanwhile, DLMP provides the latest diagnostic laboratory services supporting improved diagnosis, treatment, disease management, and prevention.
According to a report released yesterday on total activities across HMC hospitals and services in December 2024, the Outpatient Department received 295,997 visits by patients and 2,100,771 laboratory tests were conducted. A total of 4,142 medical reports were processed.
'HMC provides healthcare services and treatment to tens of thousands of patients each month across all of its hospitals and facilities."
'Here is an insight into the world-class, patient-centred care services delivered in December 2024. Wishing you good health and well-being,' HMC said on X platform.
HMC's 'Nesma'ak' customer service helpline 16060 is the third most sought service in 2024 and it handled more than 1.7 million calls.
Nesma'ak Customer Service supports the patients' entire journey at HMC through several services.
Its staff are available at all HMC facilities through over 65 help desks by assisting, guiding and answering the patients and visitors' queries from 6am to 10pm and around the clock at the Hamad General Hospital's Emergency Department.
HMC's Emergency Services also provided care to remarkable number of adults and children – a majority of them in life-threatening medical conditions.
In 2024, the Emergency Departments at HMC hospitals received 672,701 patients, and the five Paediatric Emergency Centres of HMC treated 781,595 children. The Ambulance Service received 402,320 calls and recorded 1,887 life-flight air ambulance activations in 2024.
In 2024, all hospitals across the HMC network treated 405,571 inpatients. A total of 25,467 babies were born between February and December 2024 at HMC hospitals.
HMC's Urgent Consultation Service, which offers telephone consultations for urgent conditions without a prior appointment, received 147,896 calls in 2024.
The National Mental Health Helpline, which provides professional mental health care and support, received 15,501 calls.
© Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
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For its part, the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) also launched its third strategic plan (2024-2030) in October 2024 under the slogan "1st Choice for Our Community's Health," which represents an important stage in line with the Third National Health Strategy and the Third National Development Strategy. The PHCC's strategic plan is based on key pillars, such as Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030) and the Third National Health Strategy. These strategies focus on several pillars of the health sector, most notably the focus on population health, setting ambitious goals to improve health outcomes, enhancing the quality of health services and facilitating access to them for patients, and a renewed focus on the sustainability of services provided. These pillars have been incorporated into PHCC's new plan. 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The number of hospitals and long-term care facilities in the public sector has reached 19, while the number of health centers including those affiliated with the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) and centers managed by the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) under an agreement with the Ministry of Public Health has increased to approximately 35, spread across the country, including six health and wellness centers. Meanwhile, the total number of health workers in the public sector reached approximately 29,960 health workers. As a result of this development, the State of Qatar achieved a remarkable medical milestone about a month ago, with the country's first successful heart transplant performed by a local team specializing in heart transplantation. This achievement represents a significant step forward in Qatar's healthcare sector and highlights the excellence of its organ transplant program. HMC's National Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR) has become a leading cancer treatment destination, not only in Qatar but also in the Gulf region, attracting patients from across the region while continuing to provide world-class patient care in Qatar. NCCCR continues to set standards for oncology services through advanced technology, personalized treatment plans, and a highly qualified multidisciplinary medical team. Reflecting Qatar's success in establishing a strong health system through a visionary national strategy, the country's organ donor registry has exceeded 580,000 registered donors, representing about 28 percent of Qatar's adult population, and the number of living kidney donors to relatives is doubling annually, increasing kidney transplants. The number of organ transplants performed in 2024 was approximately 60 kidney transplants, 12 liver transplants, and one lung transplant. All these recent achievements in the public health sector in the State of Qatar are the fruits of previous national health strategies and the result of massive investments made by the state to develop a flexible and smart healthcare system that works to achieve well-being and health for all residents. All KUNA right are reserved © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (