All private clinics run by general practitioners that were suposed to be phased out by July 2013 would continue to operate with the Cabinet approving a proposal by the Advisory Council to cancel a decision of the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) in this regard.
The SCH last year had asked all general practitioners operating private clinics in the country either to upgrade their status to specialists or close down their facilities by July, 2013.
A regulal session of the Advisory Coucil on Monday discussed a memorandum sent by the general scretariat of the Cabibet informing it of the aproval.
SCH sources said yesterday that three-year deadline given to general practitioners last year was no more applicable.
Although the decision had banned general practitioners from establishing and operating clinics, they were allowed to work with other facilities run by specialists.
The SCH move had run into a controversy with the Advisory Council raising serious doubts about the rationale of eliminating several clinics that are run by long-serving and experienced physicians.
The Advisory Council also discussed the proposed law that seeks to lift the government control over pricing of medicines and liberalise imports of medicines by ending the monopoly enjoyed by a few excusive dealers. The draft law was approved by the Cabinet in October last year.
The Minister of Health and SCH Secrertary General H E Abdullah bin Khalid Al Qahtani was quoted as saying that the proposed law would help open up the market to competition and address the shortage or non-availability of certain types of medicines in the country.
The medicines market in Qatar is very restricted and is totally relying on imported drugs. The country currently imports 7,600 types of medicines and the market is monopolised by 16 exclusive dealers.
“This problem cab be addressed by liberalising imports and ending the exclusive dealership of medicines,” said the Minister. Al Qahtatni said the government control over pricing of medicines had several defects. The system is treating all importers- small and big- in the same manner. This is not fair since there is variations in the cost of imports. This could discourage small importers from joining the market and competing with others. The Minister said the new law would enable owner of a pharmacy to open more branches in the country.
Currently each pharmacy requires a separate registration. It will also help pharmacists to shift job from one pharmacy to another.
SCH had said that although exclusive dealerships for medicines will be abolished, the issuance of new import licences would be subject to strict regulations and standards to ensure the safety and quality of medicines.
The Peninsula