Doha, 16 March, 2014

The Qatar Centre for Organ Donation and Transplantation (Hiba) recently organized a three-day course to provide information about Organ Donation to Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) staff. Six international experts in the field, hailing from the USA, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Qatar, conducted the course to 500 people from HMC's workforce.

Several workshops were held over three days with the purpose of providing attendees with a clearer vision of the Organ Donation and Transplantation Program and its future goals. Dr. Abdulla Al Ansari, Deputy Chief of Medical, Academic and Research Affairs presented a lecture on the vision for the Doha Donation Accord, which includes adopting the best international medical practices and standards, developing technology and providing the safest most effective medical care for all residents of Qatar.

Dr. Yousuf Al Maslamani, Director of Qatar Center for Organ Transplantation stated, "The Organ Donation and Transplantation Program in Qatar has come a long way since 1986 when the first kidney transplant was successfully done. We have succeeded in many aspects of the Program. We hope that through these courses, we will achieve our goal of establishing an active exchange of ideas between international speakers and HMC staff."

Francis Delmonico, President of the Transplantation Society and Professor of Transplantation Surgery at Harvard University, USA said, "Organ donation and transplantation is at a most compelling time in Qatar. The Doha Donation Accord model has grown substantially since its launch and can bring Qatar to be the model of self-sufficiency in organ transplantation in the Middle East and worldwide."

Dr. Dominique Martin, who flew in from Australia to be a part of the workshops and is a bioethicist at The University of Melbourne, Australia commented, "The Doha Donation Model, although very young, is already setting an example for the region and internationally with regards to ethical policy. The fact that every resident in Qatar has a right to equitably access transplantation provides a compelling reason for everyone to participate in donation opportunities. The staff at HMC has the privilege of caring for patients and families at the time of such opportunities and education, and training enables them to provide care of the highest quality and ethical standards", she added.

The international speakers were also invited to peer review the Qatar Centre for Organ Donation (Hiba) and will soon be publishing a report on their findings.

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About HMC
Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is the principal public healthcare provider for the State of Qatar. The Corporation manages eight hospitals along with further specialist clinical, educational and research facilities, and is growing in capacity each year around the diverse needs of the evolving population. HMC's ambition is to become an academic health system; a world leading center of excellence in clinical care, medical education and research that transforms into significant clinical advancements. 

HMC believes in excellence in healthcare, education and research with each supporting the other to provide world-class quality patient care in a safe and healing environment.

As well as three  general hospitals situated in the most densely populated areas of Qatar, HMC also manages five specialist hospitals, looking after patients with the most prevalent conditions, including cancer, heart conditions, rehabilitation, and a hospital providing specialist treatment for women. HMC also operates the national Ambulance Service and a home healthcare service.

The Corporation was the first public healthcare system outside the United States to achieve Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation for all hospitals simultaneously. JCI accreditation is based on quality and safety across all clinical and management functions. HMC is also the first hospital system in the Middle East to achieve institutional accreditation from the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education - International (ACGME-I), which demonstrates excellence in the way medical graduates are trained through residency, internship and fellowship programs.

For more information, please contact:
Corporate Communications Department
Hamad Medical Corporation
Tel. No.: +974 4439 891
www.hamad.qa

© Press Release 2014