DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani yesterday officially opened the Al Wakra Hospital, the largest healthcare facility in the country, which is expected to become fully functional by mid-2013.
The hospital had a soft opening in May last year with outpatient clinics for maternity, paediatrics, internal medicine and diabetes becoming operational in the first phase. Several other services and facilities were added later.
The hospital, run by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), will initially cater to patients referred by primary health centres in the Al Wakra, Umm Ghuwailina and Airport areas.
There is no restriction on other patients going to the hospital in case of an emergency. While all types of treatment are available at the new hospital, critical cases and those needing specialised care will be referred to Hamad General Hospital.
HMC's eighth hospital has 210 beds, with a capacity for an additional 50 beds, besides 96 beds for critical care. The sprawling, six-storey building houses separate emergency departments for adults, children and maternity, among other facilities.
It also has a 'See and Treat' unit for workers. This section will receive only low-income workers referred by primary health centres in the said localities.
The hospital has introduced a fully automated "sample tracking system"at its laboratory, which is a new technology in Qatar. The diagnostic imaging department is equipped with MRI and CT scanners.
The hospital has nearly 2,000 staff and the number will increase to 3,000, including 200 doctors.
Johannes Kedzerski, Executive Director of Al Wakra Hospital, said the new hospital will help reduce pressure on Hamad General Hospital.
"We are a community hospital. Regular cases will be treated here. Patients in a critical condition, and those who need specialised treatment will be sent to Hamad General Hospital. According to the HMC practices, patients should be referred from the primary health centres," said Kedzerski, while addressing a press conference after the opening ceremony.
"This is a hospital with international standards; we have all facilities to provide great services to the people. Initially, we have restrictions about the number of patients, but it will improve step by step. The hospital will be fully operational by mid-2013," Kedzerski said.
Patients in Al Wakra Hospital will be seen by consultants through an appointment system. They need to be referred by a primary health care centre, and the appointment can be fixed by visiting the hospital or over the phone.
"A fixed appointment system will be functional. The appointments will be given depending on the condition of the patient. If it is an emergency, the patient will be given an immediate date," said Ali Hassan Rasheed, director, Implementation and Innovation, at the hospital. The services on offer include cardiology, dental, ENT, general medicine (including Endocrine and Gastro Intestinal), general surgery, intensive care for adults (medical and surgical), Maxillo-facial, Renal Medicine (including dialysis), obstetrics and gynaecology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, paediatric medicine (including intensive care) and urology.
A new bridge will be built for the convenience of the patients, to connect the hospital with the Ezdan shopping mall under construction opposite the hospital.
© The Peninsula 2012
