Georgetown University: School of Foreign Service in Qatar

Hamad Medical Corporation is the state public health system which runs most of the public hospitals in Qatar. Hamad Medical Corporation has 1,200 beds and 64 clinical specialties spread across four hospitals in Doha. The primary hospital, Hamad Hospital, also has the only emergency department in Doha which can handle serious emergency cases. Al-Ahli Hospital, The American Hospital, and Doha Clinic all have 24-hour emergency departments but do not have facilities for the highest level of trauma or cardiac care.

In general, employees opt to use private health insurance (CIGNA/SAICO) for most medical needs in Qatar. However, a few services are not covered under these plans, (primarily vision coverage), so some individuals have opted to use the public health system instead. Additionally, the public system offers dental services, so those employees who have not enrolled in a private dental insurance plan may want to consider that option should they need care.

Applying for a Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) Card
Once you have your Residence Permit (RP), you should apply for an HMC Card for you and any dependents who are living with you in Doha. See Mary Bryan when your RP arrives to arrange for a card.

Using the Card
Once you have a card, you will be assigned to a ‘local’ Primary Health Care Center, which enables you to access services at that center. A list of the Primary Health Care Centers may be found at: http://www.hmc.org.qa/hmcnewsite/hcc.aspx

In addition to being granted access to a Primary Health Care Center, the HMC card allows you to seek Specialist Care at Hamad Hospital at the Outpatients Department, as well as at the Accident and Emergency Department, and as an Inpatient. Some services are free, while others may have a small fee. The following website lists the charges for all services provided through the HMC system: http://www.hmc.org.qa/hmcnewsite/med_ser.aspx

More on Using the Card

• Primary Health Care Centers are open Sunday to Thursday. If you visit during the week, you may only visit the Primary Health Center for which you are registered. On weekends, a regional center will be open. These clinics are identified by tall green hexagonal signs.

• Pediatric Emergency Centers are located at Al-Saad and Al-Rayyan, and are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These clinics are identified by tall red hexagonal signs.

• No appointment is required to see a General / Family Practioner.

• A referral is required to attend a Specialist Clinic or the Hamad Hospital Outpatient Department. Your General Practitioner from your health center is the person who would provide you with a referral.

• Appointments are required for specialist care whether in the Primary Health Care Center or Outpatients Department. You must go to the clinic or department to make an appointment.

• Specialist Clinics are at some Primary Healthcare Centers, e.g. Dental, Wellbaby, ENT, X-ray, Pathology, Ophthalmology and Diabetes.

• Outpatient Departments at Hamad Hospital, Rumaillah Hospital, and Woman’s Hospital have most other specialty services.

Individuals who do not have an HMC Card, including visitors to the country, may still use the services available through the public health system. Emergency services are provided free of charge. The Primary Health Care Centers charge 30qr for visits for individuals without a card.

GO TO ACCIDENT & EMERGENCY AT HAMAD HOSPITAL FOR ALL CARDIAC, TRAUMA AND SERIOUS ILLNESSES.

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