As of August 2022, more than 42,600 FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 employees have been checked as part of the SC's innovative and thorough health screening program. In order to give centralized access to the workers' medical histories, they are also enrolled via electronic medical records software.

The report "Promoting health and wellbeing among the migrant workforce - A global call to action," published by the World Innovation Summit for Health, describes this as a first-of-its-kind healthcare initiative on a significant construction program in the area, enabling more effective healthcare data management for workers (WISH 2022).

Employees may access their own medical records (online and via a smartphone app) and share them with their doctor from any location thanks to the electronic medical records software.

This is a first-of-its-kind healthcare initiative on a major construction programme in the region, enabling more efficient healthcare data management for workers... #Qatar #Health #Qatar2022 https://t.co/BJtpstCDc6

— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) October 8, 2022

In collaboration with the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS), SC launched the complete medical screening (CMS) program in 2018 to give employees a thorough physical checkup that includes a mental health evaluation.

This initiative aims to identify underlying health concerns at an early stage so that workers can receive appropriate medical care and maintain optimal health.

Before being mobilized on site, these exams "guarantee that personnel are fit for work, that they are well-suited for their responsibilities, and that they get suitable care plans in case of any medical difficulties," according to the study.

Throughout the COVID-19 epidemic, these medical tests also proved crucial in identifying high-risk workers, which aided the SC in providing them with the appropriate medical and mental health care, according to the study.

Professor Vidya Mohamed Ali, one of the report's co-authors, stated that Qatar began its quest to improve healthcare services for the workforce before the World Cup bid and that the nation has made significant strides since then.

She mentioned that in 2010, QRCS and the Ministry of Public Health reached an agreement to provide primary care free of charge to Qatar's male employees who had health cards. However, in reality, QRCS frequently offers services to people without health cards.

She emphasized that there have been growing calls to improve the health and welfare of low-wage migrant workers. She also noted that while the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022 has drawn attention to employment practices internationally, it has also served as a catalyst for enacting significant changes to workers' rights, employment conditions, and access to healthcare.

Nearly all nations experience the same issues with migrant labor. We are extremely happy that this country's government is actively involved and has partnered with the World Health Organization, the International Labour Organization, and many other organizations to ensure that the health and well-being of the workforce are prioritized, improved, and various things are being done to improve them, said Professor Vidya.

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Source Credits: The Peninsula