Qatar boosts healthcare services for haj Pilgrims

Qatar medical mission has increased the number of healthcare staff this year to assist pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia to perform Haj. Chief of the Haj Medical Commission and Head of Audiology and Balance Department at the Hamad Medical Corporation Dr Khalid A Hadi Hassan said, "This year we are deploying 36 healthcare workers. The 15 physicians will be assisted by 14 nurses, four pharmacists and three emergency medical staff." The Commission will have fully equipped clinics at Makkah, Mina and Arafat to cater to pilgrims from Qatar, he said. The first batch of Haj medical team will travel tomorrow to Saudi Arabia. To make healthcare services an efficient process, pilgrims from Qatar will be issued a special health card which they will carry during Haj. The card is available at all the Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC). All health issues of the person will be listed on the card to make the process of medical intervention focused and quicker during Haj. Pilgrims have also been urged to take the Meningitis and Influenza vaccines from the PHCs at least ten days ahead of their departure. Before returning to Qatar, pilgrims will be given a course of an anti-biotic drug.