Healthcare in Qatar: Hospitals and Health Insurance
Healthcare in Qatar
With a population of just over 2.2 million in 2015, Qatar ranks 144th in the world by population and 165th by total area. The official languages of Qatar are Arabic and English. The currency is the Qatari riyal.
Qatar ranks 44th in world health ranking per WHO. In 2014, the total expenditure on health per person was $3,071, which is 2.2% of the GDP. Qatari males have a life expectancy at birth of 77 years, and females can expect to live 80 years. There are 2.25 physicians per 1,000 people in Qatar as compared with 2.56 physicians per 1,000 people in the United States.
Hospitals in Qatar
Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is the government-run, non-profit healthcare provider in Qatar. It runs 6 hospitals and a health care center: Hamad General Hospital, Rumailah Hospital, Women’s Hospital, Psychiatric Hospital, Al Khor Hospital, Al Wakra Hospital, and the Primary Health Care Center. It also runs an ambulance service and a home healthcare service.
In addition, the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) manages 23 health centers in multiple locations.
There are also 4 private hospitals and a number of other private facilities that adhere to the national standards adopted by the Supreme Council of Health, which oversees the health sector. Private facilities tend to be of a higher standard with shorter wait times and are staffed by English-speaking doctors.
Health Insurance in Qatar
Qatar has launched a National Health Insurance Scheme (Seha) and established the National Health Insurance Company, which manages and operates Seha. Comprehensive health services, including preventive, curative, and rehabilitative services, are provided free of charge or at a subsidized rate to all citizens and residents with a national health care.
Private insurance is also available through a number of providers. Many employers offer insurance to their employees.
Travel (International) Health Insurance in Qatar
Travel, or international, health insurance provides comprehensive medical coverage when traveling outside of one’s home country. Travel health insurance is different from travel insurance, as the latter may provide only emergency coverage but not full medical coverage.
Travelers should check with their health insurance provider, as they may already have an option of international health coverage. If they do not, they can purchase travel health insurance from their home country or the destination country.
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