ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER ON SATURDAY INSUFFICIENT CARE Thunder, rains forecast for today DOHA: Even as day temperatures have begun dropping, the weather bureau has forecast rains accompanied by thunder at some places today. But the bureau said the day will be hot and it could be cloudy most of the time during the day at some places. The weather could be cloudy with chances of rain in the northeast, according to the forecast. Day temperatures are now in their 30s. The average day temperature today is forecast at 37 degrees C, and the minimum between 26 and 29 degrees C. Al Khor will be cooler, with the maximum temperature forecast at 36 degrees C and the minimum at 26 degrees. In Doha, the mercury levels will vary between 29 and 37 degrees C. Over 100 firms in Qatar fully American-owned DOHA: More than 100 companies based in Qatar are fully owned by Americans and another 330 are owned jointly by US and Qatari citizens, according to the Minister of Economy and Commerce. H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassem Al Thani told heads of several American businesses in New York yesterday that Qatar was a highly foreign investor-friendly country. He cited the above figures in his meeting with heads of several key US businesses at a club in New York, Al Sharq reported. In his talk, the Minister also gave details of investment oppor- tunities available to foreigners in Qatar. Britain votes for air strikes against IS LONDON: Lawmakers in Britain’s House of Commons voted overwhelmingly on Friday to join US-led air strikes on Islamic State (IS) targets in Iraq but one prominent opposition Labour party member stepped down from her post to abstain. The motion proposed by Prime Minister David Cameron’s government THE ISSUE was passed by 524 votes to 43, a majority of 481. Labour’s Rushanara Ali, a party spokeswoman Hamad General Hospital on education, said she had resigned from the section of society, while the others are at best clinics. front bench in order to abstain after the party (HGH), which is part of Hamad best clinics. “We need more and big private hospitals leadership backed the government’s proposal. Medical Corporation (HMC), “We need more and big private hospitals like Al Ahli, though they must be afford- See also page 5 has come in for severe criticism like Al Ahli, though they must be afford- able,” said an observer. He told this news- able,” said an observer. He told this news- paper yesterday that cost-effective medical Chicago fire grounds from people for what they say paper yesterday that cost-effective medical care in the private healthcare sector was are inadequate facilities and care in the private healthcare sector was the need of the hour. 1,700 flights inappropriate treatment of the need of the hour. Most expatriate-managed healthcare Most expatriate-managed healthcare facilities in the country are at best clinics Design: Abraham Augusthy CHICAGO: A fire apparently set by an patients. facilities in the country are at best clinics or polyclinics and they cater only to outpa- employee at a Chicago-area air traffic con- or polyclinics and they cater only to outpa- tients. “What we need are bigger hospitals trol centre led to the cancellation of nearly tients. “What we need are bigger hospitals in the private sector,” reiterated the expert. 1,700 flights at the city’s two major airports, in the private sector,” reiterated the expert. Another observer said that since the snarling air traffic across the United States, he criticism is nothing new, but Another observer said that since the population of the country had literally been officials said. Flights resumed at O’Hare what made it resurface in the population of the country had literally been exploding, HMC should not be expected to International Airport, one of the world’s busi- Qatari community in particu- exploding, HMC should not be expected to cater to everyone. est, after a delay of about four hours, but there Tlar was a woman’s narration on cater to everyone. “There is indeed pressure on HMC and were bottlenecks across the entire air system. Qatar Radio of her “harrowing” experience “There is indeed pressure on HMC and it must ease with more and more private See also page 9 recently. it must ease with more and more private healthcare facilities of larger scale setting Her remarks sparked a fresh debate on healthcare facilities of larger scale setting foot in the country,” said the observer. Abbas calls for timetable the issue. HMC has, however, defended itself foot in the country,” said the observer. And HMC, too, admits that the biggest against the accusations and provided details And HMC, too, admits that the biggest challenge it faces is the fast pace of popula- to end occupation of its facilities and patient care and treat- challenge it faces is the fast pace of popula- tion growth. UNITED NATIONS: There is no value in ment over the past few years. It mostly talks tion growth. “With this growth, medical needs of peo- peace talks with Israel unless the goal is ending of numbers pertaining to 2013. Observers of the healthcare scene in the ple have been growing and becoming more its 47-year occupation of the Palestinian ter- Observers of the healthcare scene in the country say there is mounting pressure on and more complex.” ritories within a “firm timetable”, Palestinian country say there is mounting pressure on HMC due to the fast growing population and The Corporation, though, added: “We President Mahmoud Abbas told the United HMC due to the fast growing population and a severe lack of private healthcare facilities. have taken all necessary measures to expand Nations General Assembly yesterday. a severe lack of private healthcare facilities. There is only one big private hospital — Al our services to meet the demand of a grow- “It’s high time for this settlement occupation There is only one big private hospital — Al Ahli — and it caters entirely to the top-end ing population”. to end now,” Abbas told the 193-member world Ahli — and it caters entirely to the top-end section of society, while the others are at See also page 2 body, which overwhelming gave See also page 8 Saturday 27 September 2014 • 3 Dhu’l-Hijja 1435 • Volume 19 • Number 6201 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 SEPTEMBER 27, 2014 ON SATURDAY 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Home Pics: Salim Matramkot Population surge strains hospitals Residents complain about long delays, waiting times and unsatisfactory services at HMC BY FAZEENA SALEEM networking sites. The complaints City when the facility is ready are mostly related to delays in by 2013. The current Women’s DOHA: Hamad General getting appointments, shortage of Hospital will be turned into a Hospital (HGH), the larg- beds and the emergency services. specialty hospital. est healthcare provider in the A woman said that she was suf- HMC denies allegations In its 2013/2014 annual report, country, has once again come fering from an eye ailment and HMC said HGH, built in 1983, has under fire for its allegedly inad- had sought an appointment to DOHA: In response to a questionnaire sent by the population have become more complex. As 600 beds. equate facilities and inappropri- see an ophthalmologist at HGH this newspaper to Hamad Medical Corporation the demand for our services has grown, we have The hospital has seen a 1.1 ate treatment of patients. in October 2013, and an appoint- (HMC) on complaints from patients, the continued to increase the number of highly spe- percent increase in outpatients The issue has cropped up fol- ment was given for March 22, healthcare provider denied the allegations. cialised services we offer, in addition to expand- from 2012 to 2013, but inpatient lowing recent comments by a 2014. With reference to treatment provided to the ing hospital capacity. In the last three years we admissions have dropped 0.8 Qatari woman on a popular pro- “It took five months to get an family that met with a road accident last month have opened three new hospitals, three long-term percent and visits to the emer- gramme on Qatar Radio about appointment. What if the prob- in Al Khor, HMC said that it provided the best residential care facilities, and acquired extensive gency department have fallen 4.3 her harrowing experience at lem had deteriorated during that emergency and hospital care to the patients. state-of-the-art medical equipment in all of our percent. HGH. Her remarks have sparked time,” she asked. They were discharged only after completing the hospitals. According to the report, a new a debate on social media. Some others say that there number of days required to meet their clinical In 2013, we treated over two million patients operating theatre block is under Several citizens have called on are cases when the primary needs. within Hamad Medical Corporation, including construction in HGH. Once com- the authorities to take immedi- health centres or the Emergency In a statement, HMC also said that it had taken 850,000 emergency visits, 40,000 surgeries, deliv- pleted, it will significantly expand ate steps to address a shortage of Department refer a case as urgent measures to expand its services to serve the grow- ered 20,000 babies and provided over 1 million capacity by nearly doubling the beds at the hospital and expand to a specialist, but still it is not ing population, and all patients were given prior- outpatient appointments.