12 hours ago
Qatar, UK hold joint working group meeting on health sector cooperation
Tribune News Network
Doha
The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and the UK Department of Health and Social Care convened a Joint Working Group meeting via video conference to strengthen bilateral cooperation in key areas of healthcare.
The Qatari delegation was led by Assistant Minister of Public Health for Health Affairs, HE Dr Salih Ali Al Marri, while the British side was headed by Fionn Craig, Deputy Director of Bilateral Relations and Trade.
Discussions focused on antimicrobial resistance, artificial intelligence (AI) and data use in healthcare, the resilience of medical supply chains, and enhancing patient safety and quality of care.
The meeting featured a comprehensive review of Qatar's national programme for combating antimicrobial resistance, pharmaceutical security measures, and strategies for securing antibiotics. The UK side shared updates on its post-UN General Assembly initiatives, including the establishment of an independent scientific committee on antimicrobial resistance.
Both sides also explored advancements in digital health. Qatar presented the Qatar Health Information Exchange Platform and outlined its approach to workforce development and private sector collaboration. The UK highlighted its ten-year plan to shift to digital systems, as well as ethical and regulatory frameworks for AI integration in healthcare.
Supply chain resilience and the role of AI in healthcare logistics were also examined, alongside Qatar's national framework for patient safety and capacity-building efforts. The UK delegation provided insights into its Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB), patient safety networks, and human factors expertise.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to continued dialogue and collaboration in pursuit of safer, smarter, and more resilient healthcare systems.
