Qatar’s healthcare system has been ranked among the best in the world. Qatar ranked among top 20 countries in Numbeo Healthcare Index by Country 2021, scoring 73 points. The survey covered 93 countries.
Qatar scored ‘high’ or ‘very high’ score in most aspects of the healthcare system covered under the survey --- skill and competency of medical staff, speed in completing examination and reports, equipment for modern diagnosis and treatment, friendliness and courtesy of the staff, cost of healthcare, and convenience of location.
Healthcare Index is an estimation of the overall quality of the healthcare system, healthcare professionals, equipment, staff, doctors, and cost. In the survey, Doha also emerged as first in the GCC, scoring 72.94 on Numbeo Healthcare Index by City 2021.
Qatar’s healthcare system has been lauded, especially during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, for its inclusiveness and accessibility. As the country is home to a large foreign population, its healthcare system under the supervision of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has looked after the expats as well as the Qatari nationals.
The government’s proactive approach succeeded in bringing the pandemic under control quickly. Effective contact tracing, massive testing and a stringent quarantine policy have contributed to Qatar’s success against the pandemic. MoPH was also able to massively upgrade and expand health facilities during the peak of the pandemic to provide each and every case the best care. This resulted in the country recording one of the lowest mortality rates, 248 deaths from close to 150,000 cases, from the coronavirus in the world. More than 145,000 have recovered from the infection in Qatar to date.
As the government gradually lifted restrictions and reopened international travel, an effective quarantine policy for all incoming passengers has helped in keeping new cases under check. Currently most international arrivals have to observe a one-week quarantine in a designated hotel. Some categories exempted from hotel quarantine due to old age or other medical conditions must isolate at homes for a week. The virus-tracing mobile phone app, Ehteraz, which the authorities launched early on after the outbreak of the pandemic, has also proven to be a success. It has helped in tracing the cases and implementing quarantine.
The COVID-19 vaccination campaign launched in December 2020 has been expanded to all health centers of the country. Currently people aged 60 and above, people with chronic diseases, and healthcare and essential workers are being vaccinated as priority groups. The vaccination will be gradually expanded to cover the entire population.
