Gulf Times
The pressure on Qatar’s healthcare infrastructure will
ease considerably if companies abided by the relevant laws, Public
Health Department director Dr Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Jassim
al-Thani has said.
Article 105 of Qatar Labour Law stipulates that
establishments with more than 100 employees should have a full-time
nurse and those with more than 500 staff need to provide a clinic with
a doctor and a nurse.
“The huge increase in the number of expatriate
workers in Qatar is putting more pressure on our health sector,” he
told a workshop on the improvement of vocational health services.
Referring
to the United Nations Human Development Report for 2009, Dr Mohamed
said workers will represent an increase of 80% of the population.
Pointing
out that the number of foreign workers and their families is expected
to reach 1,35mn, the official said this would add more pressure on the
health facilities such as Hamad Medical Corporation and primary
healthcare centres and affects healthcare delivery.
“Qatar was
selected in June 2008 as a member of the Global Health Council of the
World Health Organization for a period of two years, which confirms the
high status enjoyed by Qatar and its concern for the health and welfare
of workers,” Dr Mohamed al-Thani added.
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