The Shura Council State of Qatar

The Shura Council held today its regular weekly meeting under the chairmanship of H.E. Mr. Ahmed Bin Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud, the Speaker of the Council.
In response to the invitation of H.E. the Shura Council Speaker, the session was attended by H.E. Minister of Public Health Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al-Kuwari to present the Ministry's view on the Public Debate requested by the members of the Shura Council on the status of medical services in the State of Qatar.
H.E. the Speaker of the Shura Council welcomed H.E. the Minister and expressed thanks for accepting the invitation and attending the session. His Excellency invited the Minister to talk to the members of the Council, to listen to their views and to answer their questions and queries.
At the beginning of the meeting, H.E. Al Mahmoud on his behalf and on behalf of the members of the Council thanked H.H. the Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani for the special attention and great interest His Highness accords to the development of medical services in the State of Qatar, which has achieved great success, thanks to Allah and the directives and follow up of H.H. the Emir and the efforts of the medical personnel. However, His Excellency pointed out that there are some issues that should be addressed to develop medical services, stressing that the queries and observations of the members of the Council come part of the keenness to achieve further development and to address some issues in this vital sector.
H.E. the Minister highlighted the support the health sector receives from H.H. the Emir. With her accompanying team, Her Excellency presented a detailed explanation of the reality of the current medical services and its high quality and continuous strive for development.
Her Excellency explained the Ministry's strategy and future plans for the development of health services, in addition to the new projects which include a number of hospitals, such as a mental health hospital, a pediatric hospital and a hospital for the elderly, as well as other projects in cooperation with the private sector. Her Excellency also announced the recent appointment of a large number of doctors to strengthen the medical staff.
The members' discussion with H.E. the Minister focused on the delays in scheduling appointments for citizens with doctors, undergoing surgeries, lengthy waiting periods and emergency services and the need to increase the number of beds in hospitals. In addition to giving priority of all these matters to citizens, restoring the health insurance system, involving the private sector in providing medical services, the need to develop a mechanism to regulate the treatment of visitors and the need for availing medicines and medical equipment in health centers and focusing not only in Hamad Hospital. They also discussed the ways to address medical errors as well as manufacturing medicine in the State of Qatar and putting a system in place to regulate the disbursement of medicines.
H.E. the Minister said the upcoming period will see an improvement with regards to appointments waiting time and a draft law on health insurance would soon be prepared. Her Excellency praised the suggestions and observations of the members of the Council, highlighting its importance and expressing keenness to review and respond to them. 
After the discussions, H.E. Speaker of Shura Council thanked the Minister of Public Health for clarifying and answering the questions and queries of the members of the Council and for the Ministry's efforts to improve the medical services. He also thanked the accompanying team of specialists from the Ministry of Public Health and Hamad Medical Corporation .H.E. the Speaker explained that the discussions will be referred to the specialized committee of the Council to study and make recommendations and report thereon to the Council in preparation for submission to the esteemed Government.
Moreover, the Shura Council discussed a draft law amending some provisions of Decree Law No. 10 for the year 1974 regarding the Establishment of Qatar Petroleum.
The Council also discussed a draft law amending some provisions of Law No. 4 for the year 2008 on the Rental of Real Estate.
After discussions, the Council approved the drafts laws and decided to submit them to the esteemed Government.
The Council discussed the report of its Internal and External Affairs Committee on a Draft Law amending certain provisions of Decree by Law No. 14 of the year 1993 On Passports. The report of the Committee included recommendations to amend two articles of the Draft Law and the reasons for the amendments. After discussions, the Council decided to approve the Draft Law as amended and to submit its recommendations thereon to the esteemed Government.
Furthermore, the Council discussed the report of its Internal and External Affairs Committee on a Draft Law on Military Decorations, Orders and Medals. After discussions, the Council approved the Draft Law and decided to submit it to the esteemed Government.
At the end of the meeting, H.E. the Speaker of the Shura Council Mr. Ahmed Bin Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud briefed the Council about his participation on the head of the accompanying delegation in the work of the 35th General Assembly of Latin American and Caribbean Parliament (LACP) held in Panama on 14th, and 15th, of June, 2019 upon the invitation of H.E. the President of the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament Mr. Elias Castillo. H.E. the Speaker also briefed the members about the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Shura Council and the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament, in the light of which the State of Qatar became an Observer Member of the LACP and its flag was hoisted on the Parliament building.
Also, H.E. the Speaker of the Shura Council briefed the Council about his meetings on the sidelines of the General Assembly, which included a number of parliamentary leaders and senior officials of the Republic of Panama.