HMC to open region’s first communicable disease centre

Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) will open the region’s first hospital for diagnosis, treatment and management of infectious diseases in Doha soon.

The 65-bed purpose-built Communicable Disease Centre (CDC) is within the Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City campus and will also have a travel medicine clinic where travellers can have their pre-travel vaccinations and medical advice.

CDC is part of HMC’s expansion plans to provide faster access to high quality, specialised care.

It is also part of a government-wide programme which will see seven new major hospitals open in Qatar over the next 18 months, creating more than 1100 new hospital beds between now and the end of December 2017.

Dr Abdullatif Al Khal, deputy chief medical officer and head of infectious diseases, said the new CDC will focus on the management of infectious diseases including tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome, hepatitis and leprosy.

It will also provide care to patients with infections that need prolonged treatment such as osteomyelitis (inflammation of bone or bone marrow, usually due to infection).

“The CDC is the first facility of its kind in the region and will set the standard for diagnosis, treatment and management of infectious diseases and research into these conditions,” said Dr. Al Khal.

“The centre will not only play a vital role in improving the health and wellbeing of patients suffering from infectious diseases in Qatar but will also provide leadership in education and preventative measures.”

The centre will also play a role in the identification, treatment and management of other infectious illnesses such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers-CoV), H1N1, Sars and Ebola in times of epidemics.

The CDC will work alongside the Ministry of Public Health, Primary Health Care Corporation, Qatar’s Academic Health System partners and private healthcare organisations to provide guidance, disease tracking and support to ensure Qatar can respond quickly and effectively to health threats emanating from infectious diseases.

In addition to the comprehensive inpatient services for infectious disease patients who need hospitalisation, the facility also has outpatient clinics including pre-marital counselling and education for those with blood-borne pathogens.

It will also have a pharmacy, radiology facilities and the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, which diagnoses, tracks and monitors the illness.

Courtesy: gulf-times.com