Qatar inked a health cooperation agreement with Egypt which will see the establishment of a training programme. The Minister of Health and Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) H E Abdullah bin Khalid Al Qahtani, yesterday met Dr Hatem El Gabaly, Egypt’s Minister who is on a visit here.
The meeting dealt with bilateral ties between Qatar and Egypt in various fields, particularly those related to health and medical. On the sidelines of the meeting, the two ministers witnessed the signing of a health cooperation agreement signed by Mariam Abdul Malik, director of primary health care centres on Qatari side and Dr Essam El Toukhy, Director of the National Ophthalmology Center on the Egyptian side.
The agreement sets up a training programme for the Egyptian healthcare experts eyeing for jobs in Qatar. The agreement signing is the culmination of the efforts being exerted since the Cairo meeting held last year.
Accordingly, Egyptian medical, technical and administrative manpower, seeking employment opportunities in Qatar, would benefit from a training programme aimed at enhancing their professional skills according to Qatar’s requirements in various health disciplines.
“The main purpose of the programme is to train selected Egyptian doctors to work in Qatar,” said Dr Mariam Abdul Malik, Acting Director General of the Primary Health Department.
“The programme is six months long and Qatari officials will constantly check the training programme. Prior to the agreement, some 15 doctors and three technicians were trained. For the next batch, starting in March, some 35 doctors have taken admission and they will be trained to work in Primary Health Centers specialising mainly in family medicine and general medicine.”
The meeting also dealt with enhancing bilateral ties on investment opportunities in Egypt in the pharmaceutical industry and others. “Qatar is keen to take advantage of Egypt’’s experience in health insurance and pharmaceutical industries,” Al Qahtani said.
The Egyptian health minister said the meeting was an opportunity to exchange views on various issues of mutual concern and follow up what has been agreed during the last meeting in Cairo and the agreement reflected keenness to develop bilateral cooperation.
THE PENINSULA