Sustainable achievements of second national health strategy lead to improved health for Qatari community

Doha, Qatar: The significant accomplishments of the Second National Health Strategy 2018 2022 have played a crucial role in the ongoing sustainable de...

Doha, Qatar: The significant accomplishments of the Second National Health Strategy 2018-2022 have played a crucial role in the ongoing sustainable development and improvement of healthcare in Qatar, aiming to enhance the health of the Qatari community.

Huda Al Khtheeri, Director of the Strategic Planning, Performance and Innovation Department at the Ministry of Public Health, stated, "The strategy has successfully accomplished over 90 percent of its outcomes across 54 projects, focusing on prevention, wellness, improving access to care, and delivering services in a more integrated manner. These accomplishments were achieved despite the strategy's implementation period coinciding with the global health challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which Qatar successfully managed the crisis and maintained one of the lowest mortality rates globally.

Furthermore, throughout the strategy’s implementation, significant attention was given to ensuring the successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which was recognised as the healthiest tournament ever, thanks to the tremendous efforts of all partners involved.”

Al Khtheeri added, “The accomplishments of the strategy also build upon the significant achievements of the First National Health Strategy 2011-2016, which contributed to strengthening governance, improving policy frameworks, and introducing fundamental reforms in the country’s healthcare sector.”

Through the National Health Strategy 2018-2022, the Ministry of Public Health prioritised the improvement and development of services for seven population groups most in need of care, achieving significant milestones in this area, including a 5 percent reduction in the prevalence of dental caries among children and a 10 percent increase in the rate of exclusive breastfeeding for infants during the first six months of life.