All nationals and residents getting married in Qatar will have to undergo the mandatory tests for their marriage to be legalized.
In a statement issued ahead of the official launch of the pre-marital screening programme, the minister said, “The Supreme Council of Health exerts persistent efforts to provide all means of health care and allocate human and financial resources required for establishing a society free from diseases and armed with the necessary immunity tools against the outbreak or transmission of diseases.”
“However, this goal cannot be achieved without having full awareness of the fact that the first step begins in the creation of the family – being the basic cell of the greater society. The healthier this cell the stronger the society,” he added.
The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani issued a decree on June 29 of 2006 enforcing the provisions of the Family Law No. 22/2006 which mandates – among other things – the premarital screening to maintain protection against any diseases that can be transmitted by marriage.
For implementing this Decree, the Supreme Council of Health has taken all steps and allocated all medical, technical and financial resources required for the success of this significant national project. The executive bylaws have also been developed to achieve the stated goals and objectives of the project.
The decision stipulated that the pre-marriage medical checkups for both males and females should include infectious and hereditary diseases as well as genetic diseases. A certificate issued after the tests should be produced before the authorities concerned, while registering the wedding contract.
The decision also stipulated that those who wish to marry should be interviewed to collect information about their medical history and that of their families and must undergo clinical and laboratory tests. The Supreme Council of Health has allocated five health centers in the country as pre-marital examination clinics. The screening process will be free for citizens and residents.