Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, H E Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulaziz bin Khalifa Al Thani, yesterday inaugurated Ras Laffan Hospital and the Ruwais Health Center for Health and Recovery, which are dedicated to treating patients with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), as part of the State of Qatar’s continuous efforts to secure the necessary requirements to provide care for patients infected with the virus.
During his visit to the hospital and health center, His Excellency listened to a brief on the capabilities and medical equipment in the new facilities, which are equipped with the latest medical technologies in the field of care and diagnostic services and the capacity of Ras Laffan Hospital, which exceeds 400 beds, as well as the emergency service and the laboratory in Ruwais Health Center.
H E the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior was accompanied by Minister of Public Health, H E Dr. Hanan Mohammed Al Kuwari, and a number of senior officials in the Ministry of Public Health, Hamad Medical Corporation, and the Primary Health Care Corporation.
Minister of Public Health, H E Dr. Hanan Mohammed Al Kuwari confirmed that the opening of Ras Laffan Hospital yesterday represents an important addition to the absorptive capacity of the health system in the State of Qatar by providing an additional clinical capacity dedicated to acute cases of coronavirus with the possibility of increasing the clinical capacity if necessary.
In addition to Ras Laffan Hospital, Mesaieed Hospital was opened today, which was also dedicated to treating Coronavirus (COVID-19) patients, in addition to Hamad Hospital Corporation (HMC) hospitals, as part of the continuous efforts made by the State of Qatar to ensure that all the necessary capabilities to provide care for infected patients are available.
The new hospitals join HMC’s Hazm Mebaireek General Hospital, The Cuban Hospital, and the Communicable Disease Centre as dedicated COVID-19 treatment facilities, as part of the continuous efforts made by the State of Qatar to ensure that all the necessary capabilities to provide care for infected patients are available. H E the Minister of Public Health said, “The opening of these new hospitals increases the health systems capacity by over 400 acute beds for the sickest patients in our dedicated COVID-19 hospitals and we are able to expand that even further if the need arises.”
“This is central to our strategy of ensuring the right care is available at the right time and place for all COVID-19 patients who need it, keeping our other facilities - Hamad General Hospital and the other community and specialists hospitals - protected to continue to provide care for our general public.” H E Dr. Al Kuwari said the opening of the new hospitals is part of the government’s response to curbing the spread of COVID-19, which has also included a focus on creating awareness among the community, conducting screenings, and tracing the sources of infection.
She added that Qatar has sufficient healthcare facilities and staff to cope with the current number of COVID-19 patients who require intensive treatment and advanced respiratory support, and said the country is prepared, should the number rise. “COVID-19 patients in Qatar receive world-class care from experienced, highly qualified medical, nursing, and allied healthcare professionals.
The Ras Laffan and Mesaieed Hospitals will significantly enhance our capacity to care for COVID-19 patients who need acute and critical care,” said H E Minister of Public Health. H E Dr. Al Kuwari said that while Qatar has sufficient staff and facilities to care for COVID-19 patients, the country must continue working together to stop the spread of the virus to ensure that our most vulnerable members of society are safe and protected.
