Qatar provides one of the best healthcare services in the region. However, the lack of nursing homes is acutely felt here. The Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) gives primary, secondary and tertiary level of healthcare. The need for a facility to support the patients who are discharged and have no supporters or takers is dire. “The average in-patient stay in any hospital is six days,” said Dr Yousef K Al Maslamani, Chief of Staff, HGH. “However, at HMC, it is eight and half days. This is because the HMC hospitals are doing much beyond the scope of health services prescribed for a hospital. The HMC is an acute hospital; the patient comes in, he is treated, he becomes better, then he should be transferred to some other facilities for follow-up and continuation of healthcare.” Getting adequate healthcare is a right of all human beings. Restricting treatment to a person due to the inconvenience of another can be considered a human rights violation. Healthcare is provided at three levels. This includes medical, for which hospitals like HMC are responsible; nursing, were experts help in rehabilitation but a physician is not needed; and support care, which is the duty of the family. “Healthcare is well defined and the services that HMC provides are beyond its limit. The need of the hour is a nursing centre where these discharged patients can be treated as in hospitals but under the direct care of expert physicians,” said Dr Wafaa Alya Zeedi, Assistant Chairperson, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department. “However, HMC has been taking care of all the patients and we have been giving training to families to care for patients.” As of now HMC has allocated 12 beds for RTA patients with spinal injury to recover. This will be soon increased to 24. “The various ministries like Public Affairs, Labour and Social Affairs should take up this issue. A nursing centre can help to reduce the inpatient crisis at HMC hospitals,” Dr Zeedi said. http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local%5FNews&subsection=Qatar+News&month=March2009&file=Local_News2009031012213.xml

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