DOHA: The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) yesterday announced the completion of construction of Qatar University Health Centre and started the process of handover to the Ministry of Public Health.

The accomplishment of Qatar University Health Centre, located to the south of Qatar University in Duhail Area, heralds the conclusion of a package of four healthcare projects, including Muaither Health Centre, Al Wajba Health Centre, Al Waab Health Centre and Qatar University Health Centre.

The new centre with a total cost of over QR150m has been built on an area of 23,300 square metres, comprising a four-level main building with a two-level basement designed as a car parking as well as a ground and upper level dedicated for clinics, laboratories, administrative offices and other annexes.

The centre incorporates 36 clinics: 22 for general check-ups, eight for dentistry, two for maternity and two for pre-marriage tests along with other medical specialised services, including emergency, and physiotherapy that comprises a lounge, sports hall, in addition to a meeting hall, a library, a lab, a radiology and a pharmacy.

The centre has been designed to provide comfort to the visitors as the building has four main entrances, one of them is intended for ambulances and emergencies, and two mosques, for gents and ladies alike, along with a 511-space car parking, the biggest ever in any health centre. Ashghal has taken into consideration the people with special needs with signage messaging with illustrations and Braille writing style, comfortable toilets, wide walkways for easy movement, auto-doors, and reception desks with convenient height besides car parking spaces close to the main entrances and ramps in place of steps.  Project Engineer Ahmad Saleh stressed that Ashghal fulfilled the project according to the local and international specifications and standards, achieving 3 million man-hours without lost time injury.

“Qatar University Health Centre, besides the health centres of Muaither, Al Wajba and Al Waab, is the fourth clinic delivered since the start of the unfair blockade on Qatar. The health projects have not been affected by the siege, notably, Ashghal was able to accomplish the works in harmony with the criteria submitted by the Ministry of Public Health”, he said.

“Ashghal implements three accredited designs according to the demography of Qatar: Type A has few clinics for low populated areas like Al Karaana and Leghwiriya Health Centres, while Type B is bigger and designed for community health like Al Waab and Qatar University Health Centres. Type C is the biggest where it is intended for health and wellness since it features rehabilitation and sport services like centres of Al Wajba and Muaither,” Eng. Salah Added. It is worth mentioning that all criteria were also set by Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) since operational and architectural considerations were taken to accomplish a 3-star environmental level in terms of energy saving and environment preservation.