MoPH boosts health tech assessment in Qatar
Tribune News Network
Doha
The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) recently organised a high-level workshop to enhance national capacities in Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and health policy in collaboration with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and Hoffmann-La Roche.
The workshop formed part of the ministry's ongoing efforts to entrench evidence-based decision-making across healthcare sectors and to promote long-term sustainability and resilience within Qatar's health system.
The workshop aimed to strengthen national capabilities in HTA and health policy. Establishing a dedicated national unit in this field and developing a comprehensive assessment framework with clear standards are part of the twelfth outcome, 'Excellence in Health Research, Development, and Innovation,' under the third priority, 'Efficiency and Resilience of the Health System,' in the National Health Strategy 2024–2030.
The workshop reflected the ministry's commitment to ensuring the effective and equitable allocation of health resources, supporting innovation through effective governance of emerging technologies, and enhancing the overall resilience and sustainability of the health system. It also underscored the importance of multi-sectoral partnerships in achieving national health priorities.
These efforts align with the goals of the Human Development Pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030 and the priorities of the National Health Strategy, particularly in building a high-performing, efficient, person-centred, data-driven health system that is responsive to current and future health needs.
The workshop was opened by Dr Anas Hamad, head of the National Health Technology Assessment Unit Project within the National Health Strategy at the Ministry of Public Health, who emphasised the importance of concerted efforts to achieve the ministry's objectives under its 2024–2030 strategy, improve health system outcomes, and build specialised national capacities in this field.
He said, 'The project to establish a national Health Technology Assessment (HTA) unit is based on the third priority of the National Health Strategy, which focuses on efficiency and resilience, and is part of the twelfth outcome relating to excellence in research, development, and innovation. The HTA project is a pivotal initiative to develop an integrated and reliable framework to support transparent, evidence-based decision-making within Qatar's health system.
'Through systematic evaluation of the clinical, economic, and social impacts of modern health technologies, we aim to ensure the best health value for citizens and residents, and to enhance the sustainability of Qatar's health system. This workshop is a foundational step for this project, which will contribute to achieving a sustainable, high-quality, efficient, patient-centred, and prudent health system that meets the needs of current and future generations.'
Dr Ahmed Tawfiq, general manager of Hoffmann-La Roche in the Gulf region, stressed the importance of unifying efforts between the public and private sectors to develop sustainability frameworks aligned with shared objectives.
He said, 'Today, we are working with our partners at the Ministry of Public Health and the London School of Economics and Political Science to achieve a shared goal of improving healthcare in Qatar, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. By building capacity in health technology assessment, we ensure that the right treatments reach the right patients at the right time, relying on the latest scientific evidence and modern technologies.'
Professor Elias Mossialos, chair in Health Policy and director of the LSE Health Centre at the London School of Economics and Political Science, said: 'The LSE is proud to deliver an intensive two-day training programme for the Ministry of Public Health in Qatar, focusing on key trends in healthcare, disease prevention and early diagnosis, and economic evaluation in healthcare as an essential tool for improving system performance and decision-making, in addition to HTA programmes and value-based frameworks introduced by health innovations.'
Through lectures and discussions over two days, delivered and moderated by Professor Elias Mossialos, Dr Panos Kanavos, and Dr Alex Carter, the workshop provided participants with a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the frameworks, capabilities, and key factors required to build an effective HTA structure. The focus was on applying real-world evidence to inform policy and investment decisions, and laying the foundation for the systematic and organised use of economic evaluation within Qatar's health policy framework.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
20 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
MoPH strengthens health technology assessment in Qatar
DOHA: The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has highlighted its commitment to strengthening national capabilities in Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and health policy, having established a dedicated national unit in this field and developed a comprehensive assessment framework with clear standards. These efforts come as part of the twelfth outcome, "Excellence in Health Research, Development, and Innovation," under the third priority, "Efficiency and Resilience of the Health System," in the National Health Strategy 2024–2030. In that context, the MoPH has recently organized a high-level workshop to enhance national capacities in HTA and health policy, in collaboration with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and Hoffmann-La Roche. The workshop formed part of the Ministry's ongoing efforts to entrench evidence-based decision-making across healthcare sectors and to promote long-term sustainability and resilience within Qatar's health system. The workshop reflected the MoPH's commitment to ensuring the effective and equitable allocation of health resources, supporting innovation through effective governance of emerging technologies, and enhancing the overall resilience and sustainability of the health system. It also underscored the importance of multi-sectoral partnerships in achieving national health priorities. These efforts align with the goals of the Human Development Pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030 and the priorities of the National Health Strategy, particularly in building a high-performing, efficient, person-centered, data-driven health system that is responsive to current and future health needs. The workshop was opened by Head of the National Health Technology Assessment Unit Project within the National Health Strategy at the MoPH Dr Anas Hamad emphasized the importance of concerted efforts to achieve the Ministry's objectives under its 2024–2030 strategy, improve health system outcomes, and build specialized national capacities in this field. Dr Hamad said: "The project to establish a national HTA unit is based on the third priority of the National Health Strategy, which focuses on efficiency and resilience, and is part of the twelfth outcome relating to excellence in research, development, and innovation. The HTA project is a pivotal initiative to develop an integrated and reliable framework to support transparent, evidence-based decision-making within Qatar's health system. Through systematic evaluation of the clinical, economic, and social impacts of modern health technologies, we aim to ensure the best health value for citizens and residents, and to enhance the sustainability of Qatar's health system. This workshop is a foundational step for this project, which will contribute to achieving a sustainable, high-quality, efficient, patient-centered, and prudent health system that meets the needs of current and future generations." In turn, General Manager of Hoffmann-La Roche in the Gulf region Dr Ahmed Tawfiq stressed the importance of unifying efforts between the public and private sectors to develop sustainability frameworks aligned with shared objectives. Dr Tawfiq said: "Today, we are working with our partners at the Ministry of Public Health and the London School of Economics and Political Science to achieve a shared goal of improving healthcare in Qatar, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. By building capacity in health technology assessment, we ensure that the right treatments reach the right patients at the right time, relying on the latest scientific evidence and modern technologies." Chair in Health Policy and Director of the LSE Health Centre at the London School of Economics and Political Science Professor Elias Mossialos said: "The LSE is proud to deliver an intensive two-day training program for the Ministry of Public Health in Qatar, focusing on key trends in healthcare, disease prevention and early diagnosis, and economic evaluation in healthcare as an essential tool for improving system performance and decision-making, in addition to HTA programs and value-based frameworks introduced by health innovations." The workshop provided participants with a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the frameworks, capabilities, and key factors required to build an effective HTA structure. The focus was on applying real-world evidence to inform policy and investment decisions, and laying the foundation for the systematic and organized use of economic evaluation within Qatar's health policy framework.
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
MoPH boosts health tech assessment in Qatar
Tribune News Network Doha The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) recently organised a high-level workshop to enhance national capacities in Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and health policy in collaboration with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and Hoffmann-La Roche. The workshop formed part of the ministry's ongoing efforts to entrench evidence-based decision-making across healthcare sectors and to promote long-term sustainability and resilience within Qatar's health system. The workshop aimed to strengthen national capabilities in HTA and health policy. Establishing a dedicated national unit in this field and developing a comprehensive assessment framework with clear standards are part of the twelfth outcome, 'Excellence in Health Research, Development, and Innovation,' under the third priority, 'Efficiency and Resilience of the Health System,' in the National Health Strategy 2024–2030. The workshop reflected the ministry's commitment to ensuring the effective and equitable allocation of health resources, supporting innovation through effective governance of emerging technologies, and enhancing the overall resilience and sustainability of the health system. It also underscored the importance of multi-sectoral partnerships in achieving national health priorities. These efforts align with the goals of the Human Development Pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030 and the priorities of the National Health Strategy, particularly in building a high-performing, efficient, person-centred, data-driven health system that is responsive to current and future health needs. The workshop was opened by Dr Anas Hamad, head of the National Health Technology Assessment Unit Project within the National Health Strategy at the Ministry of Public Health, who emphasised the importance of concerted efforts to achieve the ministry's objectives under its 2024–2030 strategy, improve health system outcomes, and build specialised national capacities in this field. He said, 'The project to establish a national Health Technology Assessment (HTA) unit is based on the third priority of the National Health Strategy, which focuses on efficiency and resilience, and is part of the twelfth outcome relating to excellence in research, development, and innovation. The HTA project is a pivotal initiative to develop an integrated and reliable framework to support transparent, evidence-based decision-making within Qatar's health system. 'Through systematic evaluation of the clinical, economic, and social impacts of modern health technologies, we aim to ensure the best health value for citizens and residents, and to enhance the sustainability of Qatar's health system. This workshop is a foundational step for this project, which will contribute to achieving a sustainable, high-quality, efficient, patient-centred, and prudent health system that meets the needs of current and future generations.' Dr Ahmed Tawfiq, general manager of Hoffmann-La Roche in the Gulf region, stressed the importance of unifying efforts between the public and private sectors to develop sustainability frameworks aligned with shared objectives. He said, 'Today, we are working with our partners at the Ministry of Public Health and the London School of Economics and Political Science to achieve a shared goal of improving healthcare in Qatar, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. By building capacity in health technology assessment, we ensure that the right treatments reach the right patients at the right time, relying on the latest scientific evidence and modern technologies.' Professor Elias Mossialos, chair in Health Policy and director of the LSE Health Centre at the London School of Economics and Political Science, said: 'The LSE is proud to deliver an intensive two-day training programme for the Ministry of Public Health in Qatar, focusing on key trends in healthcare, disease prevention and early diagnosis, and economic evaluation in healthcare as an essential tool for improving system performance and decision-making, in addition to HTA programmes and value-based frameworks introduced by health innovations.' Through lectures and discussions over two days, delivered and moderated by Professor Elias Mossialos, Dr Panos Kanavos, and Dr Alex Carter, the workshop provided participants with a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the frameworks, capabilities, and key factors required to build an effective HTA structure. The focus was on applying real-world evidence to inform policy and investment decisions, and laying the foundation for the systematic and organised use of economic evaluation within Qatar's health policy framework.
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
Magnetic anastomosis surgery preformed at HMC for obesity patients
Tribune News Network Doha In a groundbreaking medical achievement, a first of its kind in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, a surgical team at Hamad Medical Corporation's (HMC) National Bariatric Centre has successfully performed two advanced modified duodenal switch procedures using magnetic anastomosis technology. The surgeries were conducted on two patients in their thirties who had previously undergone bariatric surgery, but experienced excessive weight regain. Both procedures were performed at HMC's Aisha Bint Hamad Al Attiyah Hospital by a specialised medical team, underscoring HMC's commitment to adopting cutting-edge technologies and innovations in bariatric surgery. Dr Mohamed Al Kuwari, Director of HMC's National Bariatric Centre, said: 'The new technique, known as the Magnet Anastomosis System and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), uses medical magnets to safely and accurately connect parts of the small intestine without the need for surgical stapling or sutures. 'This method helps reduce the risks of leakage and bleeding, accelerates tissue healing, shortens operative time, and minimises the risk for postoperative complications. It also eliminates the need for permanent metal implants in the body, which contributes to further enhancing patient safety.' The two patients had previously undergone traditional bariatric procedures but faced challenges in maintaining their weight loss, which required a more advanced surgical intervention. 'The magnetic anastomosis technology was used as a safe and effective treatment option, with initial results showing promising responses and improved health outcomes. Modified duodenal switch surgery is considered one of the most effective procedures for weight loss in patients with a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 50, or in those who did not achieve satisfactory results with other procedures such as sleeve gastrectomy, as well as patients with type 2 diabetes,' added Dr. Al Kuwari. Dr Moataz Basha, senior consultant Bariatric and Robotic Surgery at HMC, said: 'This innovative technique significantly simplified the surgical procedure, especially during the delicate stage of creating intestinal connections, which is traditionally one of the most complex steps. The new technique uses two small medical magnets, each with a diameter of no more than 4cm. The first magnet is swallowed orally by the patient and monitored via radiographic imaging to confirm its arrival in the small intestine. At a later stage, under anaesthesia, the second magnet is introduced with a minor surgical procedure. The two magnets are aligned and connected via imaging, which results in a natural digestive connection being formed without the traditional but more invasive surgical intervention. The magnets naturally exit the body after approximately three weeks, requiring no additional procedures.' Dr. Basha emphasized that this surgical achievement highlights the expertise of HMC's medical teams and reinforces the Corporation's position as a leading regional centre in the field of bariatric surgery.
