Residents, visitors need insurance to get basic healthcare services

»Cabinet approves draft law regulating healthcare services

The Cabinet approved yesterday a draft law, which stipulated among other things that all residents and visitors to Qatar must obtain health insurance to receive basic healthcare services in the country.

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani chaired the Cabinet’s regular meeting at its seat at the Amiri Diwan.

Following the meeting, HE the Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi said the following in a statement:

At the outset of the meeting, the Cabinet listened to the explanation provided by HE the Minister of Public Health on the latest developments to limit the spread of Covid-19, and affirmed the continuation of implementing the precautionary measures in order to combat this pandemic.

After that, the Cabinet considered the topics on the agenda as follows:

First- Approval of a draft law organising healthcare services within the country, and referring it to the Shura Council.

The draft law aims to providing an integrated, high-quality, efficient and sustainable health system, through:

• Establishing the necessary policies, plans, procedures, systems and standards to provide healthcare services in governmental and private health facilities.

• Determine the rights and duties of patients that must be taken into account when receiving healthcare services.

• Providing healthcare services to citizens in government health facilities without charge.

• All residents and visitors to the country must obtain health insurance to receive basic healthcare services.

Second- Approval of a draft decision of the Minister of Interior to exempt trainees in driving schools from the renewal fee for issuing a temporary driving licence to learn motor vehicles driving.

Third- Approval of a draft decision of the Minister of Education and Higher Education to reforming the scholarships committee.

Under the Provisions of Law No. 9 of 1976 Regulating Scholarships, a scholarship committee is formed in the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and is responsible for drawing up scholarship policy and planning, and investigating the country’s actual needs for them.

Fourth- Approval of: 1- A draft agreement on cancelling entry visas for holders of regular passports between the governments of Qatar and Moldova.

2- A draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) for co-operation in the fields of youth and sports between the governments Qatar and the Republic of Malta.

Fifth- Take necessary measures to ratify an agreement on economic, commercial and technical co-operation between the governments of Qatar and Uzbekistan.