What were the strategic aims behind the launching of Al-Ahli's medical program on Al Jazeera Mubasher?

This initiative is focused on enhancing public awareness about various health issues in a practical and interactive manner, where the doctors of the hospital address certain topics of interest and respond to the inquiries and comments of the viewers live on air. We have a group of highly professional physicians and surgeons from different parts of the world. Also, the hospital is known for its high quality services, so the program is very special and gives viewers valuable information in the field. The program is aired from the hospital once a week on Al Jazeera Mubasher. It also includes videos of actual surgeries with comments and explanations. What is special about the program is that it follows up on the care guests receive from the time they commence treatment at the hospital until they fully recovered. The experience of the guest would be showcased in cooperation with the concerned doctors. The necessary pre-approvals of the guest are obtained before airing anything because we put so much emphasis on guest confidentiality.
Following your recently opened In Vitro Fertilization and Fertility Lab, what is the expected guest demand in this facility and how will this add a new dimension of healthcare under the Al-Ahli services umbrella?

The global infertility rate is between 10-15%, and Qatar has recorded a similar statistic. The number of infertility cases is increasing because of consanguineous marriages. The consultants have proved 50% of people suffering from fertility issues can have children with medical assistance. The center offers comprehensive treatment for all cases of infertility in both men and women, Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), and standard IVF. The center can accommodate and receive 40-50 guests for consultation and can facilitate up to 10 procedures per day. Staffed with highly qualified medical team and equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, the center can address guest concerns from consultation, diagnosis, treatment, and IVF operation when necessary. Al-Ahli Hospital is also working in collaboration with scientific laboratories outside Qatar for pre-implantation genetic screening, a test that assesses the overall chromosomal normalcy in embryos. This facility increases the chances of getting a better pregnancy. Our hope is to offer our services outside of Qatar too. The Gulf area is in need of this facility. IVF has a success rate of 40-45%. We are hoping to use the new techniques that have been implemented in Europe and the US to achieve a higher success rate.
What are your operational goals for Al-Ahli Hospital over the next 12 months?

We at Al-Ahli Hospital have developed a well-defined five-year strategic plan that aims to expand the hospital and upgrade healthcare to promote and render unique medical services to our guests and society. In addition, we have recently been accredited by the Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners as a provider of continuous professional development services. The hospital offers advanced educational and training programs that benefit clinical teams working in the hospital and has partnerships with several medical institutions and authorities. We are working to establish cooperation with specialized institutions and authorities to provide a number of medical education and continuous professional development programs for medical cadres in the state of Qatar, having secured the required accreditation status. We are planning another facility in the north, although the main expansion of Al-Ahli Hospital would be undertaken at its existing location. The expansion has been pending for past six years due to a lack of approval from the concerned authorities regarding design issues. We have expressed our concerns to the government officials and are hoping that we will be allowed to build at least a ground floor and four additional floors. We currently only have approval for ground and first floors, which does not meet our requirements.