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![]() Getting a Hamad Medical Card![]()
Settling into life in Qatar means ticking off lots of things on the To Do list. For expats and their families, one of the most important things on that list involves sorting out healthcare.
With a healthcare system that is rated as being among the best in the Middle East, Qatar offers modern healthcare facilities, cutting edge medical equipment and highly trained specialists.
So, what do you need to know about accessing that healthcare system?
Private Health Insurance
Treatment within the private healthcare system in Qatar can be pretty expensive, so expats usually choose to take out private health insurance, either with their overseas provider, or within Qatar.
In some cases, an employer may provide private health insurance for their overseas employees as part of their contract.
Public Healthcare
Public healthcare in Qatar is managed by the Hamad Medical Corporation, a government-run non-profit organisation with a network of hospitals and clinics throughout Qatar.
The HMC provides free treatment to Qataris, and heavily subsidised treatment to expat residents, with a full range of services on offer, including medical, dental and optometry services.
While all visitors to Qatar can attend HMC hospitals and clinics, only those with a valid HMC medical card – also known as a Hamad medical card – can enjoy subsidised treatment at a much lower cost.
Expats with an HMC card can also benefit from subsidised prescriptions at government-run pharmacies, free emergency surgical procedures and subsidised non-emergency surgical procedures.
Getting a Hamad Medical Card
When applying for your HMC medical card, you must first find out which primary health care centre you are zoned for, and then attend that health care centre with all relevant paperwork.
Bear in mind that in order to apply for an HMC medical card, you must first have your Qatar residence permit.
Paperwork includes:
As health card applications are not accepted in the afternoon, it’s best to arrive early in the morning – as this can also help to avoid unnecessarily long wait times. It’s also worth noting that cash is not accepted – payments must be made using a credit or debit card.
After the application form has been completed and all documentation handed over, the card will either be issued immediately, or you may need to return a few days later to collect the card.
The card is the same size as the Qatari driving license, and contains your ID number, nationality, photo and date of issue.
Card Renewal
Time to renew? Card renewals can be done online via the Hukoomi Qatar government portal, or in person at all HMC hospitals. A lost card that is still valid costs QAR100 for a replacement, while lost cards that have expired cost QAR200 for a replacement.
Overview of healthcare in Qatar The healthcare system in QatarQatar has a highly developing healthcare system that has been ranked in the in terms of quality of care. The system consists of free or subsidized public healthcare, and expats living and working there can apply to access this or choose to be treated privately.Healthcare in Qatar is overseen by the. Services are provided through two organizations:.
The (PHCC), which runs 27 regional centers across the country;. The (HMC), a non-profit organization that runs facilities including 12 public hospitals, community clinics and the national ambulance serviceIf you are signed up to public healthcare in Qatar, you can register with a GP and access services including dental care, antenatal care, vaccinations, and emergency treatment. All healthcare providers in Qatar, public and private, have to be registered with the country’s. Who can access healthcare in Qatar?All residents with a valid ID and residence permit, including expats, can access public healthcare in Qatar.
You will need to apply for a health card. This can be done at the primary healthcare centers or online. Those without a health card, along with tourists and temporary visitors, will need to take out private health insurance or pay for private treatment. Cost of healthcare in QatarQatar is a big spender on healthcare, with expenditure reaching just over $3 billion per annum (2.2% of annual GDP) according to.
This makes it one of the biggest healthcare spenders per capita in the Middle East.The government of Qatar announced plans to make public healthcare universal in 2012, in line with its National Health Strategy 2011-16. Public healthcare funding comes from government subsidies. The government scrapped a move to compulsory health insurance for Qatari nationals in 2015. However, there are plans for a which may also include expat residents.Expats can access state healthcare services at a subsidized rate by purchasing the HMC health card, which currently costs QR100 for foreign residents (around $27). Many expat residents choose to take out private health insurance to access private services. Health insurance in QatarThere is currently no compulsory health insurance scheme in Qatar. The country introduced a scheme in 2013 for Qatari citizens, with plans to extend it to foreign residents, but this was dropped in late 2015 due to it becoming too expensive.
There have been discussions on a replacement scheme involving private insurers, but there are no firm details on this yet. Many expat residents in Qatar, as well as around 10% of the local population, have private health insurance. This means they can use private healthcare facilities as well as covering the costs not met through the state subsidized scheme.Private health insurance in Qatar is often offered through employers. If not, there are a number of providers with whom residents can make individual arrangements. The following health insurance providers offer expat-friendly policies:.Read more in our. How to register for healthcare in Qatar as an expatExpat residents in Qatar can register for public healthcare by applying for the.
You can do this in person at any of the Primary Health Care Centers or online via. The card costs QR100 for expat residents (QR50 for Qatari nationals). To apply for a card, you will need to provide:. passport/valid ID;. valid residence permit;.
passport-size photographs;. proof of address (e.g. A recent utility bill);. vaccination card (children only);.
ID of sponsor (domestic staff only)You will either receive your card immediately or will need to return to collect it in a few days.Most employers of expat staff offer private health insurance as part of their employment package. You should check with your employer if you want private coverage. If this is not offered, or you want additional coverage for you or family members, you can shop around for private health insurance.
Private healthcare in QatarPrivate healthcare in Qatar has grown in recent years. This is because of the growth in population and increase in number of expats who have relocated to the country; many of whom have private insurance coverage. In addition to those choosing private provision, any resident or visitor without a card will have to use private healthcare in Qatar.The biggest problem with private care is that it’s more expensive. However, you can usually get quicker treatment, access more specialized services, and be more likely to see English-speaking healthcare professionals; some of whom are expats themselves.Private facilities include hospitals (over 50% are private) and clinics. The biggest hospitals are:. Al Alhi Hospital;.
Doha Clinic;. Al Emadi Hospital;. American HospitalCosts can vary significantly depending on your individual provider. To lower fees, you can take out private health insurance with an international provider. Doctors and specialists in QatarDoctors and specialists work in both state and private sectors in Qatar.
There are medical specialists of all kinds, with the private sector in particular attracting expat health professionals with generous salaries.Altogether, there are 2.5 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants in Qatar. Public GPs work mainly in primary health care centers and clinics, with private GPs more likely to have their own private practice. If you use public healthcare, you will need a GP referral to see a specialist. You can usually make an appointment with a private specialist without a referral.You can find a doctor in Qatar through the website, your country’s embassy, or your health insurer. For more information, read our guides to Doctors in Qatar and Specialists in Qatar.
Women’s healthcare in QatarQatar has state-of-the-art women’s healthcare facilities, which makes it a good place in the Middle East to give birth. You can find quality facilities through both public and private healthcare.State provided services include the in Doha.
This is the largest tertiary hospital in the country, with over 2,000 highly trained staff delivering up to 17,000 births a year. Clinical services are available from preconception to childbirth, postnatal care, and beyond. There is also the Women’s Hospital, which offers fertility treatment, and facilities such as the which provides world-class healthcare.Contraception in the form of condoms and birth control pills are freely available.
You can buy these from pharmacies. However, although Qatar is more liberal than some of its neighbours in the Gulf, abortion is only permitted in certain circumstances and pregnancy out of wedlock is illegal.More information can be found in our guides on. Children’s healthcare in QatarHealthy children and young people is the number one objective on the Qatari Ministry of Public Health’s; with a key focus on dental hygiene, breastfeeding, and physical activity.Primary Health Care Centers, hospitals, and clinics provide a range of paediatric and children’s healthcare services; while schools administer general health programs. There are also several Paediatric Emergency Centers across the country dealing with serious health issues.Vaccinations are available for free to children of residents through the National Immunization Program.
A total of 12 different vaccines are currently administered. For further information, read our guides to Children’s healthcare and Vaccinations in Qatar.
Dentists in QatarYou can access good quality dental care in Qatar. Dental treatment is available through some of the public health centers and clinics as well as at the Hamad Dental Center.
There are also numerous private dental surgeries which provide a more extensive range of treatments; albeit at a higher cost.You can find dentists in Qatar through various ways including the website and national embassies. Our Guide to dental care in Qatar provides more in-depth information and links to resources. Hospitals in QatarThere are both public and private hospitals within the healthcare system in Qatar. The twelve public facilities, run by Hamad, offer a good standard of care. These include general hospitals (e.g.
Hamad General Hospital, Rumailah Hospital) and specialist hospitals (e.g. Heart Hospital).Private facilities are often favored by foreign residents due to shorter waiting times, range of specialist treatment, and prevalence of English-speaking staff.Everyone in Qatar including temporary visitors can access emergency treatment, even in public facilities. However, those without the health card won’t benefit from subsidized rates. Read our Guide to hospitals in Qatar for more in-depth information. Health centers and clinics in QatarIn addition to public hospitals, HMC runs several other centers and clinics across the country which provide an array of care services. These include the Ambulatory Care Center, the Communicable Disease Center, and the Anaya Specialized Care Center.
The PHCC runs the 27 regional Primary Health Care Centers that provide much of the public primary healthcare in Qatar. These are split into three regions – northern, central, and western. Pharmacies in QatarIt is possible to find pharmacies in Qatar that are open late into the evening; with some open 24 hours in larger cities such as Doha. Many hospitals also have pharmacy sections.Pharmacies in Qatar provide prescriptions as well as over-the-counter medicines.
If you have a health card, you will be entitled to subsidized prescriptions.Pharmacies stock an assortment of products, although brands may vary and some common prescription medicines may not be available. Some products such as certain anti-depressant brands are banned and some medication is controlled.
Check with your healthcare provider or Qatari embassy ahead of travelling if unsure.You can find a list of 24 hour pharmacies. Mental healthcare in QatarAs is the case in many countries, mental health service provision in Qatar is not at the same level as that of other healthcare services. There is also still a lot of stigma surrounding mental health issues.A 2015 study by the Ministry of Public Health found that 60% of respondents felt that the public had little or no awareness of mental health issues. Another study found that 25% of adults who attended a public health consultation had at least one type of mental health disorder.Facilities are limited, with fewer outpatient facilities, community residential facilities, and beds in psychiatric hospitals than in other high-income countries.
However, improved mental well-being forms part of Qatar’s 2018-22 National Health Strategy.Primary care services are improving, including the development of mental health support clinics, and there has been a recent growth in private counselling and psychotherapy practices. Other forms of healthcare available in QatarThe health authorities in Qatar only recently approved the practice such as acupuncture, chiropractic treatment, and homeopathy.
You can search for a practitioner of complementary medicine on the website. The site has also published for the practicing of this treatment. Read our Guide to alternative medicine in Qatar for more details.
What to do in an emergency in QatarThe emergency service number for ambulance, fire, or police in Qatar is 999. Response times for ambulances are usually quick. HMC runs the ambulance service across the country.
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There is an emergency helicopter service to deal with incidents in more remote parts.Anyone in Qatar can receive emergency treatment at either public or private hospitals, however those without a health card or adequate insurance coverage will have to pay full costs. Heart attack sufferers are usually treated at the Heart Hospital in Doha.Our Guide to emergencies in Qatar contains a full list of emergency numbers as well as plenty of other useful information. Useful resources.
(government portal where you can apply for a health card).
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