HE Chairperson of Qatar National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah praised the significant progress Qatar has made in the field of protecting the right to health, without discrimination, as one of the economic, social and cultural rights.
In remarks, on the occasion of the World Health Day, Her Excellency commended the efforts of the Ministry of Public Health in opening a number of hospitals and health centres during the current and past year, to cover the needs of the population, and to provide free or at nominal fees treatment, pointing out that the NHRC had monitored a number of cases in which treatment for a rare disease was brought to one patient from abroad, without consideration to the exorbitant cost borne by the state.
"This day (World Health Day) is an opportunity to motivate actors to move forward in addressing health challenges, and to stand on the achievements made on the ground," she said emphasizing the need to continue working to reduce waiting times before obtaining medical consultation appointments in primary health care centers, increasing the number of medical staff in hospital emergency departments, the need to provide a medical staff commensurate with the number of patients, and increasing outpatient appointments.
Her Excellency said the NHRC monitored the Ministry of Public Health's interest in mental health, through cooperation with the Primary Health Care Corporation to launch mental health services at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), and set up a hotline (16000) to provide support for people who suffer from mental health problems as a result of Covid-19 pandemic.
The hotline includes a team of mental health specialists who provide evaluation and support to four main categories - children, adults, the elderly, and health care workers, Her Excellency said, appreciating the provision of confidential psychological support hotline free of charge to all residents in the State of Qatar without discrimination.
Her Excellency highlighted the continued provision of mental health services at the HMC for people suffering from mental health disorders, including outpatient services and clinical care services, hailing the efforts being made to expand mental health facilities. Her Excellency also called for the need to establish an integrated psychiatric hospital in the cities of the State of Qatar, to receive cases from different groups, noting Hamad Hospital's previously announced intention to open a specialized psychological care hospital.
Appreciating the efforts of the ministries and concerned authorities, led by the Ministry of Public Health, to address the Covid-19 pandemic and provide treatment without discrimination to all groups of society, HE Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah highlighted that Qatar was ranked the world's 15th in the list of countries to have one of the best responses to the pandemic. Qatar was the only Arab country in the top 15.
Her Excellency added that the comprehensive right to health transcends providing the necessary health care to include the basic components of health, such as access to safe drinking water, adequate supply of safe food and nutrition, and the creation of healthy work conditions, health awareness, noting that the right to physical and mental health is closely linked with other human rights. (QNA)
Source: Qatar News Agency