As a result of the rapidly evolving situation relating to coronavirus (COVID-19), several changes have been made that affect the provision of routine healthcare services in Qatar’s healthcare system.

These changes have been made in order to prioritize resources and to protect patients, visitors, and the wider public from the spread of COVID-19.

​Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC)

Here are the precautionary measures implemented by PHCC from March 15:

Scheduled appointments

All scheduled appointments are now cancelled except Well-baby and Vaccination Clinics and Urgent Radiology and Ultrasound appointments.

Walk-in and Urgent Clinics

All Walk-in and urgent units will be operating as normal

All Urgent Care Units will be operating as normal

PHCC’s six Urgent Care Centers located at Gharrafat Al Rayyan, Rawdat Al Khail, Al Gharafa, Al Kaaban, Al Shahaniyah, and Al Shamal Health Centers will remain open 24 hours a day 7 days aa week for walk-in patients requiring urgent care

Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC)

Changes to outpatient services

All patients with scheduled appointments will continue to receive a consultation by one of the doctors. However, all outpatient appointments will be delivered via telephone consultations. Patients should not go to the hospital. If during the telephone consultation the doctor deems that the patient needs to come in to see them, the doctor will arrange a new appointment within days.

For any enquires relating to changes in outpatient services, you can call HMC’s Nesmaak customer care team on 16060.

Cancellation of elective surgeries

All elective surgeries, day surgeries, elective procedures like endoscopy and dental have been cancelled. Cancelled surgeries will be rescheduled for a later date.

Inpatient visitor policy

In order to limit the potential spread of COVID-19, additional restrictions for visitors to Inpatient Units are now in place across HMC hospitals.

From March 13, 2020, visitors are limited to first and second-degree relatives only, one at a time, and for a maximum of 15 minutes. 

HMC Emergency Departments

All HMC Emergency Departments (including Pediatric Care Centers) continue to operate as normal, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Patients are reminded that HMC’s Emergency Departments are for urgent and life-threatening conditions only. Patients with urgent, but non-life threatening, conditions can visit these PHCC’s Urgent Care Clinics 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Patients with suspected COVID-19 should call the MOPH hotline on 16000.

HMC Ambulance Service

HMC’s Ambulance Service continues to operate as normal, providing 24/7 medical services to patients with medical emergencies requiring immediate attention and transfer to an emergency department.

The public are reminded not to call 999 for enquiries in relation to COVID-19.  For all questions and enquiries related to COVID-19, members of the public should call the Ministry of Public Health’s dedicated hotline on 16000.​

Here's everything you need to know about the virus, including ways to protect yourself. 

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