The activities of the International Primary Health Care Conference starts today in Doha, Qatar, said MOH Deputy Minister for Planning and Development and Head of the Executive Central Health Committee for Improving Health Care Dr. Obeid bin Sulaiman Al-Obeid. He said the conference is held in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to Al-Obeid, the conference is one of six conferences to be organized by WHO in a number of countries in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of Alma Mata, a charter adopted by 130 countries.
He said the Kingdom delegation will cast light on the Kingdom's experience in implementing the project of "A family doctor for every family", which is being adopted by MOH in accordance with the guidelines of His Highness the Minister of Health Dr. Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Mane. "The whole health care system in the Kingdom has been restructured by replacing primary health care centers by family medicine centers", he said. "The services provided by family medicine centers, which are the first level of the chain of heath care provision, has then been subject to more improvement for ensuring better care".
The conference will discuss the ways of promoting primary health care services to ensure they are coping with the developments in the field. Qatari general health minister Dr. Al-Shaikhah bint Mohammed Al Thani will open the conference, which will be held under the auspices of Shiekhah Mozah bint Nasser Al-Musnad during the period from 1st to 4th November 2008.
The Kingdom delegation to the conference includes the General Supervisor of Health Information and Relations Dr. Khalid Al-Marghalani, the Executive General Supervisor for Primary Health Care Improvement Dr. Abdullah Saad Al-Darbi, Primary Health Care Centers Director General Dr. Isam bin Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, and Public Relations Manager Mr. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Yousef.
A number of professionals and specialized organizations from all over the world will attend the conference, including ministers, physicians, researchers, and heads of medical organizations.
The conference will yield the "Doha Declaration", which will confirm the intention the 22 member countries of WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to support the principle of primary health care.