Doha: The Ministry of Public Health recently organized the Regional Forum for Capacity Building for the Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) program. The Ministry collaborated with the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean and the WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Ageing and Dementia at Hamad Medical Corporation for this initiative.
According to Qatar News Agency, the forum aimed at training healthcare professionals from Egypt, Jordan, and Pakistan on integrated care for older persons, aligning with the WHO Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030). The forum's objective was to enhance countries' capabilities to incorporate care for older individuals at primary healthcare levels by implementing early screening, comprehensive assessments, and individualized care plans tailored to the needs of older persons. This effort is intended to keep intrinsic capacity and quality of life central to ageing policies across the region.
A multidisciplinary team, including doctors, nurses, and social workers, engaged in the forum to advance healthy ageing and quality of life. Participants received practical training on Qatar's evidence-based model for the Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons, showing positive outcomes in various domains of intrinsic capacity such as cognition, mobility, nutrition, vision, hearing, social and family support, and mental health.
Field visits were organized for forum participants to witness Qatar's successful experience. Qatar's national performance in the Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons showcases high referral completion rates, improved follow-up outcomes, and enhanced continuity of care, supported by multidisciplinary intervention pathways.
Dr. Hanadi Al Hamad, Head of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Ageing at Hamad Medical Corporation, stated that the forum strengthens Qatar's efforts to support Eastern Mediterranean countries in integrated care for older persons, in collaboration with the WHO Regional Office. She emphasized that Qatar's program has shown that systematic assessment and linking older persons to timely therapeutic and service interventions through specialized and recovery clinics lead to significant health and quality of life improvements.
Dr. Riana Bouhaqa, WHO Representative in Qatar, highlighted that the forum demonstrates Qatar's ongoing commitment to capacity building and knowledge exchange in the region, aligning with the WHO's efforts.
This is the second forum organized in collaboration with the WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Ageing and Dementia, following the success of the first forum last year, which trained healthcare professionals from Iraq.
The WHO has designated the Geriatrics and Long Term Care Department at Rumailah Hospital, part of Hamad Medical Corporation, as a Collaborating Centre for Healthy Ageing and Dementia. This initiative aims to launch key projects in integrated care, facilitate information exchange, develop international technical cooperation, and improve access to research and funding in this field. The centre is one of four WHO Collaborating Centres in Qatar.