The Hayyak information and appointment helpline of the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) has been upgraded to facilitate patients to gain appointments faster.

The new system would respond to the needs of patients, particularly in terms of fixing an appointment with a specific doctor, a source at PHCC told local Arabic daily, Arrayah.

The system will also address patient complaints about not knowing doctors’ names at the time of being given an appointment.

Patients can dial 107 to make use of the service that allows making appointments at PHCC’s 27 health centers across the nation, according to Gulf Times.

Under the system, a Family Physician Program has been established that entails putting a specific group of patients on the list of a doctor named by the patient.

Citizens can undergo all necessary health checkups at any PHCC center, even those where they are not registered, without the need for a prior appointment if it concerns the general clinic, the source mentioned.

However, the specialized clinics require prior appointments to see a doctor.

The source further highlighted that the number of patients using PHCC services last year, with and without appointments, was more than 3.1 million, about six percent higher than the previous year.

According to the report, at least 25 percent of the total number of patients who registered for appointments last year failed to make it to their appointments at the specified time despite reminders sent by PHCC.

The source said this was a waste of time and resources, and affected patients in need of appointments. These missed appointments are usually given to critical patients who do not make an appointment in advance.

--

Make sure to check out our social media to keep track of the latest content.

Instagram - @qatarliving

Twitter - @qatarliving

Facebook - Qatar Living