Doha: Minister of Public Health, H E Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari has stressed that the unjust blockade imposed on the State of Qatar since June 2017 is contrary to international conventions.

“Although the blockade suddenly targeted having impact on citizens in food and medicine but our country worked to overcome this through urgent plans to deal with the situation with the aim of providing food and medicine by finding other alternatives,” the Minister said in her speech at the 71st session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva yesterday.

She said that Qatar continued providing healthcare services to the entire population, including the citizens of the countries of the blockade, based on Qatar’s absolute belief that health was a basic human right, and human rights should not be affected by political differences. Al Kuwari pointed out that Qatar under the wise leadership of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani was working on the continuous development of healthcare system, good health and well-being of existing and future generations. She said that Qatar was committed to achieve comprehensive healthcare coverage.

The Minister added that in 2008, Qatar had launched its National Vision, which emphasized comprehensive healthcare coverage to all residents in the country.  “Our country provides government-subsidized healthcare services across the country and is available to all citizens and residents.”

“Qatar has witnessed in last few years a significant expansion in the number of healthcare services and facilities meeting high standards of quality,” said Minister of Public Health, H E Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari.

The Minister said that healthcare sector had achieved important milestones through the implementation of the National Health Strategy 2011-2016, adding that the next phase of the strategy 2018-2022, was based on the strong pillars and focused on three objectives of better health, better care and better value.

She also stressed that Qatar in its humanitarian and international role, was providing developmental support to needed countries, including contributing to supporting sustainable development projects such as health and education projects. “We also emphasize here the need to increase international attention to the health rights of people living in countries which suffer from long-term emergencies, particularly in our region.”

She concluded by stressing that ensuring comprehensive health coverage for all citizens was an essential element in achieving the sustainable development goals set by all states in adoption of the United Nations Development Agenda. “We need to fulfill our commitment in each country and work together through concerted international efforts to achieve this fundamental goal at the global level,” she observed.

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