Friday, 11 January 2013

DOHA: The Cuban Hospital in Dukhan conmemorated yesterday the first anniversary of its official inauguration, with a 34 percent increase in its medical staff and the upcoming opening of its emergency unit this Sunday.

The state-of-the-art hospital was built and equipped by Qatar while the Cuban government at first provided more than 200 professionals, including doctors, nurses and specialists in the fields of rehabilitation, dentistry, pathology, biomedicine and radiology.

The director of the hospital, Tania Fernández, told The Peninsula that the emergency service will be available 24 hours, seven days a week, from Sunday.

She added that the number of doctors has increased from 61 when the hospital opened, to 82.

The hospital serves an approximate population of 40,000 people, most of whom are workers from neighbouring labour camps and Qatar Petroleum. 

On this basis, the doctor stated that the centre now offers secondary healthcare to these citizens, who only had primary healthcare before.

"Now the population has these services closer, it's much easier for them," said Fernández.

"The surrounding primary health centres have contributed to helping the hospital grow by referring their patients to us," he added.

Back in mid 2011, the Cuban Hospital's out-patient clinics were opened, providing laboratory, radiology and pharmacy services to patients.

The hospital attends people in the west of the country, including Dukhan, Um Bab, Al Jemailiya and Al Shahaniyah. Services provided include clinics for paediatric, endocrinology, internal medicine, urology, cardiology, general surgery, ENT, ophthalmology, gynaecology, and rehabilitation medicine. 

Also available are dental, physiotherapy, CT and MRI facilities, inpatients wards, operating theatre and emergency department.

The Cuban Hospital is under the umbrella of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), which currently manages other specialised hospitals, including Hamad General Hospital, Rumailah Hospital, Women's Hospital, National Center for Cancer Care & Research, Al Khor Hospital, Heart Hospital and Al Wakra Hospital.

On his part, the Ambassador of Cuba, Ernesto Plasencia, said  that he's organising a visit to the hospital with a group of European diplomats this month. 

He added that relations between Cuba and Qatar are "excellent, based on respect and collaboration. Now we have the challenge to consolidate the hospital." 

© The Peninsula 2013