Doha Bids to better healthcare for workers

DOHA: The Supreme Council of Health (SCH) jointly with the Ministry of Labour has intensified efforts to improve the quality of healthcare for the large expatriate workforce in the country.

A joint panel has been set up with representatives from both the sides to monitor implementation of the relevant provisions in the labour law and come out with proposals to improve the situation.

“The growing number of expatriate workers has been putting a lot of pressure on healthcare facilities in the country. The Supreme Council of Health is working on a project to set up exclusive hospitals and clinics catering to labourers. The new committee will review the health care services provided by companies to their workers and suggest measures to improve the reach and quality of such services,” Dr Jamal Rashid Al Khanji, acting director of the Medical Licencing Department at SCH and a member of the new committee told The Peninsula yesterday.

Khanji is also acting director of the Quality and Health Department at SCH.

Article 104 of the Labour Law stipulates that every company that has 500 workers or more should provide a clinic in its premises supported by a trained nurse and physician. Companies with a minimum of 100 workers should appoint a nurse to look after the workers.

Companies with lesser number of workers — five or more — are required to provide a first aid kit to every group of 25 workers.

An important mission of the new committee is to ensure that all the companies abide by these regulations. It will also oversee the appointment of nurses and physicians in the clinics operating in company premises as well as the quality of healthcare services provided at these facilities.

“The scope of the committee is not just limited to monitoring the existing clinics. It will also examine whether any changes are required in the regulations to improve the quality of the services,” said Al Khanji.

He said every nurse or physician working at such clinics was required to obtain a licence

fom SCH.

Only a few companies have been providing full-fledged clinics in their premises. Most firms have appointed medical staff who offer the basic health guidelines to the workers, when they fall sick. There is an urgent need for improving the quality of services in this sector, added Al Khanji.

He said the Licensing Department had been coordinating with the Labour Department to address issues related with such facilities. The new committee will further widen the area and scope of this cooperation.