Ashghal, Qatar’s Public Works Department, has awarded six new contracts, worth a combined total of QR1bn, to improve medical infrastructure around the county.

The six projects will see new health centres come up in five areas around the country, in addition to the National Health Laboratory Complex in Al Mesaimeer, reported Gulf Times.

Asghal President Dr. Eng. Saad bin Ahmad Al Muhannadi and Primary Health Care Corporation’s Assistant General Manager for Administration and Financial Affairs Dr Musallam Al Nabit formalised the agreement during a ceremony yesterday.

The new Health Centre projects are at Al Khor, Al Wakra South, Al Sadd, Al Mashaf and Ain Khalid and are expected to serve around 3,500 patients each day, said a report in Ashghal’s official website.

Dr Al Muhannadi said Ashghal had constructed double the number of health centres between 2014 and 2018 than anytime in the past. Ashghal has implemented 24 health buildings between 2004 and 2018 of which more than half of them (including a hospital) were implemented in the last four years.

The top official said that four new health centres — in Madinat Khalifa South, Umm Ghuwailina, Al Thamid and Nuaija — were currently under the designing phase and that construction would soon commence, in coordination with the Ministry of Public Health, reported The Peninsula.

The Ashghal president said their priority was to award construction contracts to local and national companies.

“This is in line with the directives of the country’s wise leadership,” said Dr Al Muhannadi.