A popular medical clinic in Doha has been temporarily closed after staff said it was inspected by the Supreme Council of Health (SCH).
Future Medical Center abruptly shut yesterday morning, and it is unclear when it will reopen.
Security guards stationed in the courtyard outside the clinic, which is located across the street from Villaggio Mall, were seen turning away a steady stream of patients yesterday and today who had arrived for appointments or walk-in services and had not been notified of the closure.
Signs posted outside the clinics gates said the health center was “closed for maintenance.”
The remaining on-site staff refused to say why the clinic was closed, although one said it related to defective machinery.
Through a window, a cleaner could be seen scrubbing furniture in a hallway while wearing a surgical mask.
When pressed, a clinic employee told Doha News it was a “special” cleaning above and beyond normal maintenance, but refused to elaborate.
Officials at the Doha HealthCare Group, which owns the clinic, declined to discuss why it was closed when contacted by Doha News, referring questions to the SCH.
A council spokesperson said he was looking into the matter.
The adjacent dental clinic is not affected by the closure and is still accepting patients.
Patient reaction
Many of the residents who pulled up at Future Medical Center over the past few days appeared frustrated and surprised at the clinic’s closure.
Some had appointments and said they were not informed that the clinic would be closed.
Others who turned up for walk-in sessions were directed to different clinics further up Al Waab Street, including one man who arrived with the intention of having an MRI performed on his back.
He told Doha News that he’d wait to learn the reasons behind the closure before becoming concerned and said he had previously been pleased with the treatment he received at the Future Medical Center.
“I’m surprised (it’s been shut down),” he said. “It’s a good clinic. I bring my son here.”
Thoughts?
