Doha: Private dental clinics in Qatar are doing a thumping business due to over-crowding at the country's only government dental clinic at the Rumailah Hospital.
The waiting period to see a dentist at the Rumailah Hospital clinic is between four to six months, according to Al Sharq.
There is a huge waiting list and even if you walk with a severe tooth ache, the dentists at the government clinic would ask you to come after a minimum of four months.
Qatar's population has risen many times over, over the past decade but this dental clinic at the Rumailah Hospital remains as it was years ago.
Dentists can attend to 48 patients at one time, a capacity that remains unchanged over the past many years, said Al Sharq.
The number of doctors is limited and there are complains galore but officials at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) have done little to improve the clinic.
Al Sharq quoted head of the clinic, Dr Khairullah Khalaf Abdul Raheem, as saying that until November last year, 105,000 patients were treated.
Another 38,000 failed to turn up at the appointed time. The figure was 40,000 in 2003.
Al Sharq quoted Dr Saleh Al Marri, director of primary health centres as saying that plans are in place to open dental clinics at a number of primary health centres across the country.
The daily, however, did not say when the plans are likely to materialise.
Patients, both nationals and expatriates, are forced to visit private dental clinics because of over-crowding at the Rumailah Hospital dental unit.
Private clinics are notorious for charging exorbitant fees. A tooth removal can sometimes cost you QR1,000, making a dent in your pocket.
© The Peninsula 2005
