Soon, junk food will be banned from Qatar’s hospital cafeterias
Restaurants in public hospitals will soon be banned from selling junk food, under a new initiative by the Ministry of Public Health to promote healthy eating habits among the public.
The ministry is currently working on a plan to make it mandatory for public hospitals to sell only healthy food at their cafeterias and vending machines, said Dr Sheikha Al Anoud bint Mohamed Al Thani, Director of Health Protection and Non-communicable Diseases at the ministry.
“We’re working on selling only healthy food at hospital cafeterias and vending machines and avoiding junk food,” she said, addressing a Press conference regarding the GCC Health Awareness Week.
“We’re also having discussions with nutritionists and dietitians to decide what types of healthy food can be sold (at such outlets),” she added.
The ministry, together with the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Primary Healthcare Corporation (PHCC) and Mersk Oil has lined up a series of events for the Week under the theme ‘Let us beat diabetes’.
In Qatar, the prevalence of diabetics among the adult population is expected to be doubled from the current 17% by 2045, unless appropriate action to limit the spread of the disease is in place.
During the Week, Qatar, together with other GCC countries will highlight the most significant issues related to diabetes.
HMC and PHCC will distribute pamphlets to the public to raise awareness about how to prevent, detect early and live with diabetics. Health experts will participate in TV and radio programmes as part of the awareness campaign.
Workshops will be held at schools to educate children aged 5-18 on prevention of diabetes.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, a screening will be done for police officers and their families to identify non-diagnosed diabetic cases and create awareness about prevention and how to control the disease.
Maersk Oil will assign a mobile clinic in Katara as part of GCC Health Awareness Week activities.
Courtesy: thepeninsulaqatar.com
When there is money to make the authorities normally stay quiet! For example, in Europe tobacco is heavily taxed. Governments would lose millions in revenues if they banned the sale of tobacco. But on the other hand they argue that they are spending millions on healthcare. However, this is an eye-wash because every employed person pays a monthly premium for healthcare. Lots of talking and little of acting.
Good move.. I recall my local hospital in London allowed a burger King franchise to open on its premises..
The hospital said that the extra revenue was beneficial..
There was a outcry from the public.. And finaly it was shut down..
The authorities need to not just talk the talk .....