Forum comes in the backdrop of the country’s broader push to regulate private healthcare services and maintain highest level of healthcare.

Deepening the integration and partnership with the private sector to enhance the quality of services, care and investment in health care were key agendas at the forum on regulating private healthcare recently organised by Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH).

Inaugurated by Qatar’s Minister of Public Health Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al-Mahmoud on Monday, private hospitals, centres, clinics, dental centres, pharmacies, and pharmaceutical manufacturers from across the country participated in the forum, MoPH said in a statement on Tuesday.

“This inaugural forum marks a significant milestone, strengthening the private sector’s role and exploring the proposals of its representatives, recognising them as partners in the development of Qatar’s health sector,” Al-Mahmoud said.

Al-Mahmoud added that the forum also sought to maintain continuous communication with the private sector to address challenges, draft legislation to benefit the care seekers as well as the providers.

In addition to the representatives from the private sector, Qatar’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) were also present at the first forum of its kind.

In its statement, MoPH said that the forum was also organised to review the intra-sector governance and to increase the participation of private entities in achieving univeral health coverage within Qatar. Giving patients more quality options when choosing healthcare providers was one of the key points of discussions.

“The forum reviewed […] the application of international best practices in engaging the private sector to build human capacity […] and the formulation of a comprehensive health policy that ensures all stakeholders, including the private health sector, are involved in the decision-making,” it added.

It also comes on the backdrop of the ministry’s broader push to intensify the inspection campaign in recent years, which has resulted into legal action against several private health services that have failed to maintain the standard.

The ministry closed a private facility for failing to maintain required number of operating staff as well as employing service providers without required licenses as recently as June 26.

Additionally, the medical director did not meet the required qualifications upon Department of Healthcare Professions (DHP), it added in a statement announcing the measure.

In March, the ministry had shut down seven health centres for regulatory violations, including three specialised centres and four units in private health entities.

In 2024, the ministry carried out legal measures against two private health units, a private health services agency, a general medical complex​​, and a health facility for different violations.